On 24th November 2018, Cao Bang province organized a ceremony to receive UNESCO global geopark status. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and high level Leaders of the Party Central Committee, the National Assembly, the Government Office, MONRE Minister Tran Hong Ha and Cao Bang’s Provincial People Committee attended the ceremony. Also present at the ceremony were leader representatives from ministries, social associations, international organizations and domestic and foreign tourists.
Minister Tran Hong Ha and Chairman of Cao Bang PPC Hoang Xuan Anh receiving th Certificate from UNESCO representative (Photo: TTXVN).
Non Nuoc Cao Bang was established in 2015. In November 2016, Cao Bang submitted a dossier to UNESCO to seek the global geopark recognition. A survey team of UNESCO came to the province in July 2017 to make assessment of the park’s values and conservation work. It is now the second UNESCO-recognised Global Geopark in Vietnam after Dong Van Karst Plateau, which was accredited in 2010. The park is also the eight of its kind in Southeast Asia to receive the status. The geopark is home to fossils, ocean sediment, volcanic rocks, minerals, and especially karst landscapes, which can give researchers an insight into an over-500-million-year history of the Earth. It is also well known for rich biodiversity and many indigenous fauna and flora species.
Speaking at the ceremony, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc stressed the importance of the UNESCO recognition and recommended Cao Bang to build up a tourism development model that should combine cultural and historical values, patriotism, natural landscapes, and cuisine, among others, thus creating diversity and identity. The PM emphasized the need for Cao Bang to take innovative measures to turn heritage preservation and promotion into a livelihood, helping local residents have better living standard.
At the ceremony, MONRE Minister Tran Hong Ha and Chairman of Cao Bang Provincial People’ Committee Hoang Xuan Anh received the Certificate to be delivered by Chief Representative, UNESCO office in Viet Nam Michael Croft. On this occasion, a series of activities including the Cao Bang Culture, Sport and Tourism Week; Folklore and Art Performance and the Trade, Investment and Investment Promotion Conference will be held by Cao Bang province.
Hoang Xuan Huy