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B&R News: B&R Initiative promotes int'l cooperation: UNESCO chief
3 May 2017

Irina Bokova, director-general of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. (Photo/cri.cn)

 

We fully support the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative which has gained positive response from the international community, said Irina Bokova, director-general of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Paris during an interview with Chinese media on April 19, China Radio International reports.

 

Bokova believes that the initiative greatly contributes to intercultural dialogues and understanding.

 

We need more proposals like the initiative to help us better think about the current trade, investment and economic relations, and we need to note that intercultural dialogues have been increasingly strengthened, she said.

 

Bokova wished for the success of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, which is to be held in Beijing on May 14 and 15.

 

Bokova said she expects Chinese President Xi Jinping's speech at the upcoming forum.

 

Bokova believed that it is impossible to conduct trade, cooperation and investment without understanding and dialogues.

 

She said, I think Xi wants to convey this message too. He stressed the importance of the Silk Road and intercultural dialogues during his visit to the UNESCO several years ago.

 

We need to develop intercultural dialogues and mutual understandings to bring about more social inclusiveness and equity in societies, Bokova mentioned, stressing that it is where the UNESCO brings its contribution.

 

In 2015, Bokova visited Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, the starting point of the ancient Silk Road which has been included into the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List.

 

Bokova said it is amazing that intercultural dialogues along the ancient Silk Road were successful over 2,000 years ago, and there is still a lot to learn from the past if people want to see more prosperity, more connectivity and more mutual understanding among the peoples.

 

The ancient trade route carries rich information on communication, diversity and intercultural dialogues, and concerns prosperity and development, all of which are highly relevant today, according to Bokova.

 

Bokova appreciates China's cooperation with and contribution to the UNESCO.

 

She thanked China for supporting a resolution adopted by the UN Security Council in March on protecting cultural heritages amid conflicts, saying it is a landmark decision that puts the importance of cultural heritages on the global political agenda.

 

She hoped that the initiative could promote greater international cooperation to bring prosperity to the world, quoting a Chinese proverb which says "One tree does not make a forest, and one string does not make music."

 

Source: Belt and Road Portal