On Wednesday March 23^rd 2011, the press conference was held in Hanoi by Vietnam Federation of UNESCO Associations to announce the 8^th World Congress and 30^th Anniversary of WFUCA’s foundation to be organized in Vietnam. Reporters from various Vietnamese and international press agencies attended.

Mr. Nguyen Xuan Thang as the President of Vietnam Federation of UNESCO Associations (VFUA) and Secretary General of the World Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centres and Associations (WFUCA) chaired the press conference. At the presidium were included Mr. George Christophides as the President of World Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centres and Associations, Mrs. Katherine Muller-Marin, representative of UNESCO in Vietnam & Head of Hanoi UNESCO Office, Mr. Nguyen Manh Thang, representative of National Commission for UNESCO of Vietnam and Ms. Tran Nguyen Uyen Linh as VFUA’s Goodwill Ambassador on Youth.

Mr. Nguyen Xuan Thang in capacity of hosting federation made official announcement that the 8^th World Congress of WFUCA will be held from 18^th to 22^nd 2011 in Hanoi and the National Conference Centre (My Dinh, Hanoi) will be the venue of this Congress. Besides Mr. Thang also announced the content, significance of this international event and extra events possibly to be organized in the same time with the Congress to welcome the 8^th World Congress. Mr. Thang informed that in responding the International Year of Youth provoked by United Nations, Vietnam Federation of UNESCO Associations has decided to appoint the pop singer Tran Nguyen Uyen Linh as the Goodwill Ambassador of VFUA on Youth. She has a mission to bring the messages of UN and UNESCO in relating youth issues to the community in Vietnam.

Mr. George Christophides remarked the significance of this Congress in conjunction with 30^th Anniversary of WFUCA’s foundation. He appreciated Vietnam Federation of UNESCO Associations as the hosting organization that makes valuable contribution to the development of WFUCA and the movement globally. Mr. Christophides sent his sincere thanks on behalf of WFUCA’s Executive Board to the Government of Vietnam and relevant agencies in Vietnam for their support and guarantee thus to make the 8^th World Congress to be held successfully in Vietnam. Moreover the President of WFUCA made appeal to the community in Vietnam including international organizations for support and contribution to the organization of the 8^th World Congress and 30^th Anniversary of WFUCA’s foundation.

Mrs. Katherine Muller expressed the strong support of UNESCO to the 8^th World Congress and 30^th Anniversary of WFUCA’s foundation to be organized in Vietnam this August. She highly appreciated the role of UNESCO non-governmental movement and its contribution to spreading out the noble ideals and progressive objectives of UNESCO to community at grassroots. She also stressed the importance of the International Year of Youth and appreciated the initiative of VFUA to appoint the Goodwill Ambassador to participate in activities in relating youth in conformity with the themes of the International Year of Youth.

Mr. Nguyen Manh Thang said the strong support of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and National Commission for UNESCO of Vietnam for the 8^th World Congress of WFUCA held in Vietnam. He also called upon the attention and support of the civil society to help Vietnam Federation of UNESCO Associations to successfully organize this event.

Pop singer Tran Nguyen Uyen Linh exposed her deep gratitude to Vietnam Federation of UNESCO Associations for trusting and assigning her to this noble mission as the Goodwill Ambassador on Youth. She acknowledged that this is a long-term mission which requires continuous and serious devotion. She promised to stand side by side with Vietnam Federation of UNESCO Associations to promote the progressive ideals of UN and UNESCO for the young generations in Vietnam.

The press conference was held in spirit of open minded. The announcements at this press conference is interesting to the public.

VFUA