The Asia-Pacific Dialogue on Heritage and Authenticity concluded in Hanoi with a document aimed at carrying regional perspectives into international discussions on World Heritage protection.
Hoang Dao Cuong, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Vice Chairman of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO. Photo: Organizing Committee
The Asia-Pacific Dialogue on Heritage and Authenticity concluded in Hanoi on Sept. 30 with the adoption of the Hanoi Document on Heritage and Authenticity, affirming the Asia-Pacific region’s contribution to international discussions on the authenticity of World Heritage.
The document was described as a significant outcome of the conference, developed through exchanges, professional discussions and the sharing of experiences among countries, international organizations, government agencies, experts, researchers and community representatives.
Delegates highlighted the need to recognize the dynamic nature of heritage in practice, while noting that no single approach can encompass every type of heritage or all the relationships surrounding it.
Several elements of the draft continued to be discussed before the document was ultimately adopted.
Participants noted that environmental and cultural changes can affect heritage and that authenticity needs to be considered within specific relationships and contexts.
Change, they stressed, does not necessarily mean a loss of authenticity.
Elements such as knowledge, ways of life and cultural practices may evolve over time, but should be understood in relation to the nature of the heritage itself, its cultural context and relevant sources of information.
The conference also emphasized the need to strengthen regional and international networks.
In his closing remarks, Hoang Dao Cuong, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Vice Chairman of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, outlined three areas in which Vietnam will work with UNESCO and member states in the coming period.
These include maintaining dialogue on authenticity in the face of emerging challenges; expanding experience-sharing, comparative research and capacity-building; and translating the results of research and dialogue into policies and heritage protection tools consistent with the 1972 World Heritage Convention.
Jonathan Baker, head of the UNESCO Office in Vietnam. Photo: Organizing Committee
Jonathan Baker, head of the UNESCO Office in Vietnam, welcomed the adoption of the Hanoi Document and highlighted the participation of artisans, cultural practitioners, community representatives and younger generations in the discussions.
According to Baker, previous dialogues on heritage authenticity had largely been confined to experts, while the Hanoi conference brought the voices of people directly engaged in cultural practices into the process of developing the document.
He described this as an important new feature of the conference.
Lazare Eloundou Assomo, director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, described the adoption of the Hanoi Document as an important milestone in the shared commitment to implementing the World Heritage Convention.
He said the document offered a clear perspective, rigorous arguments and a distinctive Asia-Pacific imprint.
Assomo said the World Heritage Centre would work with the three advisory bodies to bring the conference’s outcomes into the international discussion process.
He also described Vietnam as a particularly meaningful venue for the conference, noting the important place culture holds in the country’s socioeconomic development strategy.
Vietnamnet.vn
Podcast
.svg){kind=icon}
