President Xi expresses support for the UN during meeting with UNESCO Director-General
Beijing (ANTARA) - Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed support for multilateralism and the United Nations during a meeting with the Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), Khaled El-Enany.
“China has always steadfastly practised true multilateralism, supported and upheld the authority of the UN, and backed UNESCO in playing an important role in global governance,” said President Xi at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Tuesday.
President Xi stated that UNESCO has made significant contributions to enhancing mutual understanding and trust among nations, as well as promoting exchanges and mutual learning between different civilisations.
“My wife, Peng Liyuan, is also a UNESCO special envoy for advancing the education of children and women. UNESCO also plays a positive role in reforming and improving global governance in the fields of education, science, and culture,” added President Xi.
China, said Xi, actively supports UNESCO’s work, and both sides have accomplished much together to maintain world peace and promote global development.
“China is willing to deepen strategic cooperation with UNESCO to better benefit people around the world,” Xi stated.
Xi also noted that the era oriented towards peace, development, cooperation, and mutual benefit remains unchanged. However, Cold War mentality, hegemonism, and unilateralism are resurging, while global governance stands at a new crossroads.
“China wishes to work with UNESCO to effectively implement the four global initiatives, so that people of all countries can share the fruits of development in education, science, and culture, better address common challenges together, and join hands to promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind,” explained President Xi.
President Xi further emphasised that both China and UNESCO need to deepen cooperation in areas such as artificial intelligence, open science, digital education, and others; promote respect for the diversity of world civilisations; encourage different civilisations to respect each other and live in harmony; strengthen cooperation with Global South countries; and promote the protection of cultural heritage as well as exchanges and mutual learning among civilisations.
Meanwhile, El-Enany stated that he felt a warm welcome from China during his first visit to the country as UNESCO Director-General since his inauguration in November 2025, although he noted that this was his third visit to China.
“I am a representative from Africa, from Egypt, from a Muslim country, and it is my desire to unite UNESCO member states, promote dialogue and cooperation, enhance mutual understanding, strengthen mutual learning among civilisations, and build a UNESCO that serves humanity,” said El-Enany.
He also expressed thanks for China’s long-standing support of UNESCO, adding that the organisation still clearly remembers the important speech delivered by President Xi Jinping during his visit in 2014.
“UNESCO hopes to continue strengthening coordination with China, improving global standards in education and culture, promoting exchanges in science and technology, deepening cooperation in artificial intelligence, jointly implementing the four global initiatives, and enhancing the well-being of all humanity,” added El-Enany.
During the talks, President Xi Jinping was accompanied by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, while UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany was accompanied by the Director and UNESCO Representative for China, South Korea, North Korea, Japan, and Mongolia, Shahbaz Khan.
It is known that China has become a major active member of UNESCO following the decision by US President Donald Trump on 22 July 2025 that the US will withdraw from UNESCO effective 31 December 2026.
That decision was due to UNESCO’s international development being deemed contrary to the “America First” foreign policy, as well as UNESCO’s recognition of the State of Palestine, which was said to conflict with US policy and further strengthen anti-Israel rhetoric within the organisation.