Viet Nam was elected with very high numbers of votes of the Executive Board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

The voting principle of the Executive Board is closed votes in each geographical areas. In the 38th session of UNESCO’s General Conference organized from November 03 to 18, 2015 in France, the General Conference re-elected 30 member states. This competition was extremely serious, especially that in Group IV of Asia – Pacific (Viet Nam belongs to this group), group Va of Africa (13 countries compete for 7 seats) and Group Vb of Arabic countries (8 countries compete for 4 seats). Regarding Group IV of Asia – Pacific, there are 6 seats and 8 competing countries of Afghanistan, Muslim Republics of Iran, Malaysia, Pakistan, South Korea, Samoa, Sri Lanka, Viet Nam.


The voting was so serious that the Poll Committee had to delay the announcement of voting results for 2 times. As a result, at midnight of November 11, early November 12 2015, according to Viet Nam’s time, Viet Nam was announced to be elected to UNESCO’s Executive Board for the 2015-2019 term with very high number of votes of 156, ranking the second among elected countries in Group IV, which were Malaysia, Viet Nam, South Korea, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Muslim Republics of Iran. Meanwhile, in Group Vb, Arabic countries didn’t total agree and the General Conference need to have the second voting in Friday, November 12, 2015 to decide which countries are elected between Arab Saudi and Sudan.

The fact that Viet Nam became a member of UNESCO’s Executive Board with high number of votes shows the country’s increasingly high position and prestige in the international arena; at the same time it is the recognition of the international community for Viet Nam’s contribution to UNESCO. Acquiring high number of votes was resulted from a process of extremely active and serious political and diplomatic lobby at all levels, inside and outside the country, in UNESCO and in other multi-lateral forums as well as in bilateral relations.


This is the fourth time Viet Nam has been elected as a member of UNESCO’s Executive Board. The last three times occurred in 1978-1983, 2001-2005, 2009-2013. Becoming a member of the Executive Board, Viet Ham would have opportunities to actively participate in UNESCO’s policies and decisions, through which to show and promote its roles of “active member of the organization and responsive member of the international community”, at the same time this is an opportunity for Viet Nam to continuously improve its position and prestige, internationally integrate in 5 fields of education, natural sciences, social sciences, culture, information – communications, contributing to successful implementation of Resolution No. 22 on International Integration of the Political Bureau.