Chinese National Commission for UNESCO Looks to FutureThe China National Commission for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) held its 22nd conference in Beijing Tuesday to discuss its future goals.Zhang Xinsheng, director of the commission and also vice- minister of Education, presided over the meeting, which was attended by more than 100 representatives from 29 government departments and non-governmental organizations. Zhang said China should take the great historical opportunity of Beijing's success in the bid for the 2008 Olympic Games and its coming entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO) and play a more active role in cooperative activities with the UNESCO. While continuing to maintain the nation's interests and sovereignty, China should participate in every major exchange and cooperative activity offered by the UNESCO and implement the great strategy of "revitalizing China through science and education," he said. Zhang said that it is a must to further improve the work of China national commission for UNESCO in the new century. According to Zhang, the commission's major tasks in the future include: participating in a series of important international conferences including the 31st congress of the UNESCO, promoting the commission's cooperation and exchange with countries and regions worldwide. The tasks also include increasing the role of the China national commission for UNESCO in international organizations, arranging an international conference of education ministers from nine countries with the most dense populations, which will be held in Beijing in August. The conference will enable the world to know more about China's great contribution in the fields of basic education and eliminating illiteracy, he said. Moreover, the commission will highlight preparation for the second visit of the UNESCO's general secretary, continued implementation of the project involving an international rural education center in north China, promotion of protection on cultural relics and application for the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, Zhang said. Reviewing the commission's work last year, Zhang said the commission conducted more than 200 educational, scientific and cultural and exchange projects. Representatives from government departments, members of the commission, spoke on their cooperation projects with the UNESCO at the conference. |
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