(Phnom Penh): Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet received a courtesy call from Flavio Bonetti, the UNESCO Representative to Cambodia, at the Peace Palace on Monday (May 11).

During the meeting, Bonetti expressed his deep appreciation to the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) for its ongoing support of UNESCO, which has facilitated numerous significant achievements in recent years.

He underscored the strong collaboration between the RGC and UNESCO in preserving cultural heritage and advancing the education sector in Cambodia.

The representative reaffirmed UNESCO’s commitment to enhance further and expand its partnership with Cambodia.

He also informed Prime Minister Hun Manet about UNESCO’s contributions in mobilising international funding and providing expert support for the management and preservation of Cambodia’s cultural heritage, which he identified as a key priority for UNESCO.

Furthermore, Bonetti highlighted UNESCO’s long-standing partnership with Cambodia’s Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, focusing on education policy development, teacher quality enhancement, and curriculum improvement, all aimed at fostering human capital development in alignment with the RGC’s Pentagonal Strategy-Phase 1.

In response, Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet expressed his sincere appreciation for the close cooperation between the RGC and UNESCO, recognising their important role in Cambodia's socio-economic development.

He underscored that preserving both tangible and intangible cultural heritage is vital not only for the Cambodian people and future generations but also for humanity at large.

The prime minister also reaffirmed that cultural heritage preservation remains a top priority for Cambodia, noting that the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts is actively preparing documentation for the inscription of additional Cambodian cultural heritage sites on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

In closing, Prime Minister Hun Manet encouraged UNESCO to continue strengthening its relationships and expanding cooperation with relevant Cambodian ministries and institutions, aiming to deepen the partnership for the mutual benefit of the Cambodian people and the international community.
=FRESH NEWS