UNESCO Beijing Cluster Office was established in 1984. It is responsible for UNESCO’s projects and work in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Japan, Mongolia, the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of Korea. Altogether, these countries encompass about 1/5 of the world’s population, around 25% of global economic output, and over 5,000 years of rich history and culture.
Together with other UNESCO units and the entire United Nations family, UNESCO Beijing Cluster Office works to find and implement innovative solutions in social, cultural, environmental and economic dimensions of sustainable development, helping countries to achieve their national development priorities and commitments on Sustainable Development Goals and the Education Agenda 2030. It does so through five major programmes – education, social sciences, natural sciences, culture, and communication & information.
In the five countries it serves, UNESCO Beijing Cluster Office has helped to establish 22 UNESCO Category 2 Centers, 60 Biosphere Reserves, and 95 World Heritage Sites; has built capacities of key decision-making institutions; helped strengthen policies, standards, and practices in UNESCO’s areas of work; promoted cooperation between countries within and outside the region; and made a lasting impact on people’s lives.