PARIS – Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Co-operation and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty met on Tuesday with UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany to discuss ways of strengthening co-operation between Egypt and the organisation in support of the country’s sustainable development efforts and the advancement of its education, science and culture sectors.
Abdelatty praised UNESCO’s pivotal role in protecting cultural heritage, harnessing technology and innovation to improve education systems, and supporting youth empowerment and capacity-building programmes in Egypt.
He reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to maintaining close co-operation with the organisation, stressing that investment in education, culture and science is essential to achieving sustainable development.
The foreign minister also commended El-Enany’s efforts since assuming office and the progress made in the organisation’s institutional and administrative reform process. He particularly welcomed the UNESCO Executive Board’s unanimous adoption, during its latest session, of the director-general’s vision for administrative reform and organisational restructuring.
Abdelatty stressed the need to enhance co-operation with UNESCO to address the needs of developing countries, particularly in Africa.
He affirmed Egypt’s readiness to work with the organisation to expand joint programmes and projects across the continent, helping build national capacities, safeguard Africa’s cultural heritage, promote regional integration and advance the continent’s Sustainable Development Goals.
The foreign minister also invited El-Enany to attend the sixth edition of the Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development, scheduled to take place in November.
He highlighted the importance of the forum’s agenda, particularly poverty reduction and peace and security issues, describing them as key pillars for advancing sustainable development across Africa.
