30 November – 3 December 2014

On the invitation of H. E. Mr Sok An, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister in charge of the Office of the Council of Ministers and President of the National Commission for UNESCO of the Kingdom of Cambodia, H. E. Mr Hao Ping, President of the General Conference of UNESCO, was invited to pay a visit to Cambodia. The main purpose of the visit was to strengthen the cooperation between Cambodia and UNESCO and to attend the official launching of the International Coordinating Committee for the Safeguarding and Development of the Historic Site of Preah Vihear.

In the presence of numerous personalities, UNESCO's Deputy Director General Mr Getachew Engida and the Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong opened the Beijing Forum 2014.

Among the guests of honor to the opening ceremony of the Beijing Forum 2014, the former prime minister of France, Mr Dominique de Villepin, the former prime minister of the Republic of Korea Mr Han Seung-soo, the Chinese Minister of Education H.E. Mr. Yuan Guiren, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture Mr Alfredo Pérez de Armiñán, the Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General Ambassador Joseph V. Reed.

It was also the opportunity to visit World heritage sites as the Great Walls and the Imperial Palace of the Ming and Qing Dynasties in Beijing known as the Forbidden City.

31 October 2014

The ceremony held at UNESCO Headquarters on Friday, October 31 marked the start of celebrations marking UNESCO’s 70th anniversary that will continue throughout 2015. 

H. E. Mr Hao Ping, President of UNESCO’s General Conference and Vice-Minister for Education of China, in his intervention, highlighted that the launching of the 70th anniversary celebration with paying homage to Nelson Mandela echoes UNESCO’s aim of mission, as his achievements and his bringing are concrete examples of what UNESCO can produce in the minds of women and men.  He recalled the vivid experience he had during President Mandela’s visit to the Beijing University of China, and stressed that honoring the memory and commitment of Nelson Mandela is an encouragement and motivation for us, as he stands as our beacon in the pursuit of peace. He concluded by stating that: “to survive from the storm we are currently facing, our hands needs to be joined, our efforts needs to be unified; we should gaze together into our common future. Only from the solidarity can we reach the sustainable peace, this is what Nelson Mandela taught us, and I believe, this is what we should always keep in heart.”

• Speech (pdf)

On Thursday 30 October 2014

World Perfect made a financial contribution of US$ 100,000 to contribute to the emergence of a global consciousness in favour of the ideals and practice of mutual understanding and non-violence; and to foster on international cooperation, solidarity and reconciliation.

On Monday 27 October 2014

22-26 October 2014

On the invitation of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, H. E. Mr Hao Ping, President of the General Conference, paid a visit to Iran.

The visit also served as an occasion to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including:

-  The museum in Zahedan

-  In Kashan, the main cultural heritage sites, including Fin garden, which was inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2012

-  In Tehran, the Golestan Palace, lavish palace and masterpiece of the Qajar era, became a centre of Qajari arts and architecture of which it is an outstanding example. It was inscribed in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013.

20 to 30 October 2014

The President of the General Conference sits ex officio in an advisory capacity on the Executive Board (Ex. Board, Rules of Proc., rule 9.1). On 20 October 2014, during the 3^rd plenary meeting of the 195th session of the Board, H.E. Mr Hao Ping thanked the Chairperson of the Executive Board for his enabling leadership and congratulated the Director-General for her extensive and inspiring report.

He reminded the audience that, as we celebrate the 70th anniversary of our Organization, it is worth remembering how UNESCO has helped to reconcile peoples who were once war enemies, how it has significantly helped the independence movement of developing countries, and has facilitated countless networks across the world for exchange, cooperation and action, covering all fields of intellectual life.

He expressed his satisfaction in regard to the unique strengths of UNESCO -- which have put forward relevant concepts, such as “Education for all”, “world heritage”, “cultural diversity”, ”new humanism ” as well as its leading ideas and flagship projects, such as “Africa Priority, and Gender Equity”, “Global Education First Initiative”, “culture for sustainable development”, “creative cities networks”.  Earning the Organization international respect, and making it worthy of its reputation as “world’s think-tank”.   

He concluded by stressing that to maintain and carry forward our role, it is require that all members states join hands, in studying the global emerging challenges, characteristics of our time, and invite each state to further mobilize the resources in different ways, in view to relight the vitality, dynamism and value of UNESCO, with the conviction that its mission has never been more important than today.

• Speech (pdf)

On Thursday 11 September 2014 with:

Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, opened the ceremony, followed by illustrious speakers, such as Marcus Miller, UNESCO Artist for Peace and Spokesperson for the Slave Route Project; Christiane Taubira, French Minister of Justice; Michäelle Jean, UNESCO Special Envoy for Haiti.

These agreements will provide an opportunity for young university graduates and junior qualified professionals to acquire work experience in multilateral and technical cooperation, to obtain training and exposure to UNESCO’s work at its Headquarters, Field Offices and Institutes. Those are the first agreements ever been signed between China and the United Nations System.

H. E. Ms Zhang Xiuqin, Ambassador, Permanent Delegate of China to UNESCO, Mr Du Yue, Secretary-General of the National Commission of China for UNESCO, Mr Engida Getachew, Deputy Director-General of UNESCO witnessed the ceremony. The event was covered by Chinese mass media: Xinhua, CCTV, Renmin Daily, Phoenix TV.

On Wednesday 2 July 2014 with:

The ceremony was held at the City hall, during which the President of the General Conference inaugurated an international art exhibition on the theme “Wines, Art and Peace” and was enthroned as “Vigneron d’honneur”.

• Speech (PdF)

The Jurisdiction of Saint-Emilion is an outstanding example of an historic vineyard landscape that has survived intact and in activity to the present day.

International Conference on Engineering Sciences and Technology (ICEST) 2014 on the theme “Engineering and the Future of Humankind”, where the Director-General delivered a keynote address at the opening session in the presence of the President of China, XI Jinping and other dignitaries at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Launching of the Creative Economy Report by the Director-General. The event took place at the Dadu Museum of Art in Beijing, in the presence of the Chair of the UNESCO Executive Board, H.E. Ambassador Mohamed Amr and a number of Permanent Delegates to UNESCO, as well as the Director of the Dadu Museum of Art, Jin Shangyi, Ms Yan Aoshuang, Director of the Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission, and the Secretary-General of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Mr Gao Xiang,

Signature and launching of the International Knowledge Centre for Engineering Sciences and Technology (IKCEST), a new Category 2 Centre under the auspices of UNESCO, and led by the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

Lecture at Tsinghua University on “Leadership, Soft Power and Values for a Better Future for All”, followed by a meeting with the President of the University, Chen Jining.

Renewal of the agreement between UNESCO and the Xinhua News Agency, for joint and concerted cooperation to carry out common projects contributing to the promotion and dissemination of information about UNESCO’s priorities and activities.

In Suzhou, on 5 June 2014, the President HAO Ping, attended the International Conference on “Enhancing Language Ability and Education for the 21st Century”, along with the Director-General, H. E. Ms Liu Yandong, Vice Premier of the People’s Republic of China, Minister of Education, Mr Yuan Guiren, Mr Li Xueyong, Governor of Jiangsu Province, as well as the Chair of the UNESCO Executive Board, HE Mr Mohamed Amr. Organized by the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China in partnership with UNESCO, the Conference brought together ministers of education, linguists, educators and international development partners from some 93 countries across the world -- with the goal to reflect on challenges and new options for effective language ability and language education.

The President delivered a speech at the closing ceremony and quoting the Azeri poet and philosopher Nizami Ganjavi, he encouraged young people not to be without hope, but to dare innovate, to curb the challenges for sustainable development. He stressed that the responsibility bestowed today upon younger generation to explore new avenues that must lead us to a shared vision of peace and the common welfare of humankind, cannot be taken lightly. He concluded by stating that young scientists have a special role in the Post-2015 development agenda, which will depend essentially on knowledge in its forms, on the production, acquisition and use of knowledge. It is not because something is new that it cannot be tried.

• Speech (PdF)

The President had the opportunity to meet with:

26 May 2014

By invitation of the Ambassador, Permanent Delegate of Kuwait to UNESCO, H.E. Dr Ali Al Tarrah, the President of UNESCO’s General Conference attended the award ceremony of the UNESCO/Emir Jaber al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah Prize to Promote Quality Education for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities. The Prize, established in 2002 and funded by the State of Kuwait, is awarded on a biannual basis to two individuals, organizations, or centers that have contributed to the promotion of inclusive quality education for persons with intellectual disabilities.

The 2014 two winners, recommended by an international jury, were:

-  The Armenian NGO Bridge of Hope, for its programme entitled ‘Towards Education for All: Inclusive Education’

-  The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development of the Canadian Provincial Government of New Brunswick, for its long-standing commitment to a systemic approach to inclusive education for learners with disabilities.

5 May 2014

H.E. Hao Ping, President of UNESCO’s General Conference, attended the special thematic debate in New York on “Culture and sustainable development in the post 2015 development agenda”.

Mandated by the United Nations Resolution 68/223, ministers and senior policymakers from around the world joined UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova, Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations, Jan Eliasson, and H.E. Khaled Khiari, Acting President of the United Nations General Assembly underscored through country level testimonies and global data how culture, in its manifold expressions ranging from cultural heritage to creative industries, from sustainable tourism to cultural infrastructure, drives and enables the social, environmental and economic pillars of sustainable development.

The President of UNESCO’s General Conference underlined the importance of culture as a resource to tackle the multiple challenges societies around the world are facing and the foundation for building a more harmonious and sustainable future.  He observed that the ways in which people learn, acquire and transmit knowledge are closely linked to their geographical, historical and linguistic backgrounds; and that educational curricula that take the local context into account are most likely to be effective in providing quality education and cohesive societies.

• Speech (Pdf)

On Tuesday 8 April

-   H. E. Dr David Doyle, Ambassador, Permanent Delegate of St. Kitts and Nevis to UNESCO

On Wednesday 9 April

-   Rev. Dr. Rudolph Anthony, Secretary-General of the National Commission of Belize for UNESCO

-   H. E. Mr Ahmed Sayyad, Ambassador, Permanent Delegate of Yemen to UNESCO and President of the Group 77 + China

-   H. E. Mr Jean-Marie Adoua, Ambassador, Permanent Delegate of Congo to UNESCO

-   H. E. Mr Ket Sophann, Ambassador, Permanent Delegate of Cambodia to UNESCO

On Monday 14 April

-   H. E. Mrs Eleonora Mitrofanova, Ambassador, Permanent Delegate of Russian Federation to UNESCO

7 April 2014

On 7 April evening, the President of the General Conference attended the commemoration ceremony of the International Day of reflection on the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda, which was opened by the Director-General and the Ambassador of Rwanda to France and UNESCO. The purpose of the day is to ensure that the genocide perpetrated in Rwanda in 1994 is better known, and to honour the memory of the victims and pay tribute to the survivors, a raising awareness among younger generations about this genocide and promoting the values of a culture of peace.

2 to 15 April 2014

The President of the General Conference sits ex officio in an advisory capacity on the Executive Board (Ex. Board, Rules of Proc., rule 9.1). On 9 April 2014, during the 4^th plenary meeting of the 194th session of the Board, H.E. Mr Hao Ping congratulated the Chairperson of the Executive Board and the Director-General for their coordination and mutual understanding in the implementation of UNESCO’s programmes. He reminded the audience that 2015 will celebrate the 70th anniversary of UNESCO quoting Confucius “at 70 years old, you become precious with your experience gained during your whole life”. He expressed his satisfaction in regard to the establishment of a taskforce for its preparation, and invited all the Member States to join their efforts to make it a grand celebration and a precious moment of solidarity, in a spirit of diversity and openness. He concluded by quoting the two Chinese proverbs “If people are of one heart, even the yellow earth can become gold” and “only the joint efforts of all can remove the Mont Tai”.

• Speech (Pdf)

26 March 2014

The President of the General Conference called a meeting on 26 March 2014 with the heads of the six electoral groups of UNESCO (Sweden, Lithuania, Argentina, Philippines, Benin, Bahrain), to facilitate sharing thoughts and ideas and to hear the views from the electoral groups before the 194^th Session of the Executive Board.  He informed them of the outcome of the last meeting of the heads of the 3 organs and invited them to share with him any matter that they may wish to be raised during the next meeting.  The President reassured the Chairs of each electoral group of his readiness to listen at any time any of their suggestions related to UNESCO’s political role as a platform for multilateral diplomacy, clear information about the work of UNESCO in its spheres of competence, focusing on results with a view to consolidate the common efforts to guide the Organization through its mandate.

19 March 2014

H. E. Mr HAO Ping attended, on the evening of 19 March 2014, the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Awards c eremony, held at the Sorbonne University in Paris (France).  The ceremony was presided by Professor Günter Blobel, 1999 Nobel Prize for Medicine, in the presence of the Director-General of UNESCO, and of Mr Jean-Paul Agon, Chair and CEO of L’Oréal and Chair of the L’Oréal Foundation.

Each year, five outstanding women scientists – one per continent – are honoured for the contributions of their research, the strength of their commitments and their impact on society. The five laureates of the 2014 edition L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Awards are:

    -   Europe: Professor Brigitte Kieffer– Neurobiology (Strasbourg/France)

     -   North America: Professor Laurie Glimcher – Immunology and Medicine (New York/USA)

    -   Latin America: Professor Cecilia Bouzat – Biophysics (Buenos Aires/Argentina)

    -   Asia / Pacific: Professor Kayo Inaba – Immunology & Medicine (Kyoto/Japan)

    -   Africa and the Arab States: Doctor Segenet Kelemu – Biology & Plant Pathology (Nairobi/Kenya)

19 March 2014

The President of the General Conference attended the celebration of Nowruz, inscribed in 2009 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity as a cultural tradition observed by numerous peoples. It is a reminder of the values and aspirations that bind us all together, in mutual understanding, solidarity and peace.

15-17 March 2014

H.E. Mr HAO Ping, President of the General Conference, attended the Second Global Education and Skills Forum in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) from 15 to 17 March 2014.  This event, under the Patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President & Prime Minister for the UAE, was organized in support of the UN Secretary-General’s Global Education First Initiative and hosted jointly by UNESCO, GEMS Education, the Varkey GEMS Foundation and Dubai Cares.

Nowadays, unemployment is at an all-time high across much of the globe and funding for education is being cut where it is most sorely needed – both issues that disproportionally affect the young and disadvantaged. The Forum gave special emphasis to the role of public-private partnerships in strengthening the nexus between education, equity and employment. The aim was to inspire new ideas and partnerships that unleash the power of education to transform global society positively and to facilitate the first steps in this essential process.

H. E. Mr. Hao Ping, President of the General Conference, attended the Executive Board’s Information Meeting with the Director-General, held on Wednesday 12 February 2014. In his intervention, he congratulated the Director-General for her very good and concise reports, as well as the Chairperson and Executive Board members for their fruitful work and commitment. He concluded by quoting the Chinese philosopher Lao Zi: “The more we help others, the more we benefit ourselves”.