Beijing (ANTARA) - Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed support for\nmultilateralism and the United Nations during a meeting with the\nDirector-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural\nOrganisation (UNESCO), Khaled El-Enany.<\/p>\n
\u201cChina has always steadfastly practised true multilateralism,\nsupported and upheld the authority of the UN, and backed UNESCO in\nplaying an important role in global governance,\u201d said President Xi at\nthe Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
President Xi stated that UNESCO has made significant contributions to\nenhancing mutual understanding and trust among nations, as well as\npromoting exchanges and mutual learning between different\ncivilisations.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy wife, Peng Liyuan, is also a UNESCO special envoy for advancing\nthe education of children and women. UNESCO also plays a positive role\nin reforming and improving global governance in the fields of education,\nscience, and culture,\u201d added President Xi.<\/p>\n
China, said Xi, actively supports UNESCO\u2019s work, and both sides have\naccomplished much together to maintain world peace and promote global\ndevelopment.<\/p>\n
\u201cChina is willing to deepen strategic cooperation with UNESCO to\nbetter benefit people around the world,\u201d Xi stated.<\/p>\n
Xi also noted that the era oriented towards peace, development,\ncooperation, and mutual benefit remains unchanged. However, Cold War\nmentality, hegemonism, and unilateralism are resurging, while global\ngovernance stands at a new crossroads.<\/p>\n
\u201cChina wishes to work with UNESCO to effectively implement the four\nglobal initiatives, so that people of all countries can share the fruits\nof development in education, science, and culture, better address common\nchallenges together, and join hands to promote the building of a\ncommunity with a shared future for mankind,\u201d explained President Xi.<\/p>\n
President Xi further emphasised that both China and UNESCO need to\ndeepen cooperation in areas such as artificial intelligence, open\nscience, digital education, and others; promote respect for the\ndiversity of world civilisations; encourage different civilisations to\nrespect each other and live in harmony; strengthen cooperation with\nGlobal South countries; and promote the protection of cultural heritage\nas well as exchanges and mutual learning among civilisations.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, El-Enany stated that he felt a warm welcome from China\nduring his first visit to the country as UNESCO Director-General since\nhis inauguration in November 2025, although he noted that this was his\nthird visit to China.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am a representative from Africa, from Egypt, from a Muslim\ncountry, and it is my desire to unite UNESCO member states, promote\ndialogue and cooperation, enhance mutual understanding, strengthen\nmutual learning among civilisations, and build a UNESCO that serves\nhumanity,\u201d said El-Enany.<\/p>\n
He also expressed thanks for China\u2019s long-standing support of UNESCO,\nadding that the organisation still clearly remembers the important\nspeech delivered by President Xi Jinping during his visit in 2014.<\/p>\n
\u201cUNESCO hopes to continue strengthening coordination with China,\nimproving global standards in education and culture, promoting exchanges\nin science and technology, deepening cooperation in artificial\nintelligence, jointly implementing the four global initiatives, and\nenhancing the well-being of all humanity,\u201d added El-Enany.<\/p>\n
During the talks, President Xi Jinping was accompanied by Chinese\nForeign Minister Wang Yi, while UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany\nwas accompanied by the Director and UNESCO Representative for China,\nSouth Korea, North Korea, Japan, and Mongolia, Shahbaz Khan.<\/p>\n
It is known that China has become a major active member of UNESCO\nfollowing the decision by US President Donald Trump on 22 July 2025 that\nthe US will withdraw from UNESCO effective 31 December 2026.<\/p>\n
That decision was due to UNESCO\u2019s international development being\ndeemed contrary to the \u201cAmerica First\u201d foreign policy, as well as\nUNESCO\u2019s recognition of the State of Palestine, which was said to\nconflict with US policy and further strengthen anti-Israel rhetoric\nwithin the organisation.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/president-xi-expresses-support-for-the-un-during-meeting-with-unesco-director-general-1778608553", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }