President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov received UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, who arrived in the country on an official visit.
They exchanged views on issues of cooperation in the field of prevention of consequences of climate change, preservation and development of cultural and historical heritage.
The head of state noted that Kyrgyzstan attaches great importance to cooperation with UNESCO, in particular, the expansion of international contacts in the fields of education and science.
He told about positive changes in the country, noting that in recent years the Kyrgyz Republic has occupied a worthy place in the world community, and added that active work is underway to ensure the political and economic stability of the republic, its social and cultural development.
Sadyr Japarov noted that everything possible is being done in Kyrgyzstan to improve the quality of education, develop technological literacy and practical skills, train specialists and expand educational opportunities for all citizens. Particular attention is paid to the spiritual and moral development of the individual and physical education.
According to the President, in recent years, measures have been taken to develop a creative industry based on the intellectual potential of a person and aimed at developing innovative entrepreneurship. He hopes for UNESCO’s support in the development of the national creative industry, primarily in Central Asia, as part of regional initiatives on the use of technology and digital innovation, the president said.
Sadyr Japarov recalled that over the past decades, the Kyrgyz Republic has been an active supporter of the interests of mountainous countries in the international arena to address issues of sustainable development and the consequences of climate change.
«I believe that the development of cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and UNESCO in the implementation of projects to promote biological and geological diversity, scientific research, forecasting will contribute to the conservation of mountain ecosystems and the sustainable development of mountain territories through the rational and careful use of natural resources,» he stressed.
Discussing the topic of climate change, the head of state noted the planned visit by the Director-General of UNESCO in the Kyrgyz Republic to Adygene and Golubin glaciers. Sadyr Japarov mentioned them earlier during a meeting in New York, inviting Audrey Azoulay to visit the republic and personally see the decrease in the area of glaciers.
Audrey Azoulay stressed the active position of Kyrgyzstan in cooperation with UNESCO in the preservation of the cultural and historical heritage of mankind. In addition, she outlined the wide variety of intangible heritage in the country, noting the importance of preserving historical and cultural monuments of the Kyrgyz Republic for future generations.
The UNESCO Director-General thanked Sadyr Japarov for the opportunity to personally visit the glaciers and drew attention to the expansion of cooperation in climate change issues in mountainous states.
At the end of the meeting, she presented the president with a certificate on the inclusion of the manuscript of the epic Manas in the version of the manaschi Sagymbai Orozbakov in the list of intangible heritage.
The parties agreed to develop cooperation between the Kyrgyz Republic and UNESCO, as well as further plans for implementation of joint programs.
