(Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan)
Chinese President Xi Jinping met on Tuesday in Beijing with Khaled El-Enany, director general of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Xi stressed that UNESCO has made important contributions to better understanding and trust among people, as well as exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations, and played a proactive role in reforming and improving global governance in education, science and culture.
China actively supports the work of UNESCO, and the two sides have accomplished many actions to safeguard world peace and promote global development, Xi said, expressing China’s willingness to deepen strategic cooperation with UNESCO to better serve the people of all countries.
Xi said global governance is at a turning point, stressing that China is committed to true multilateralism, upholds and defends the authority of the United Nations, and supports UNESCO in its important role in global governance.
China is ready to work with UNESCO to implement the four global initiatives, enable people of all countries to benefit from progress in education, science and culture, better respond to the common challenges facing human society, and jointly build a community with a shared future for mankind, Xi said.
Xi called on the two sides to deepen cooperation in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), open science and digital education, uphold respect for the diversity of civilizations, promote mutual respect and harmonious coexistence among different civilizations, strengthen cooperation with countries in the Global South, as well as encourage the preservation of cultural heritage, cultural exchanges and mutual learning.
Mr. El-Enany said he hoped to bring together all member states, promote dialogue, cooperation, mutual understanding and mutual learning between cultures.
Expressing thanks to China for its long-standing and unwavering support to UNESCO, Mr. El-Enany expressed UNESCO’s willingness to strengthen coordination with China to enhance global education and cultural development, promote exchanges in science and technology, deepen AI cooperation, jointly implement the four global initiatives, and bring greater benefits to humanity.
