UNESCO Director-General makes first official visit to China, reaffirming commitment to cooperation

While in Beijing, Professor El-Enany and Minister of Education Huai Jinpeng signed a new Memorandum of Understanding between UNESCO and China for 2026-2029, reaffirming a strategic partnership across education, the sciences, culture, communication and information.

Particular attention was given to the newly established International Institute for STEM Education (IISTEM) in Shanghai, which the Director-General described as one of UNESCO's most promising initiatives for the future. The Institute is expected to support countries worldwide - particularly in Africa and Small Island Developing States - to expand access to quality STEM education, while empowering young people, especially women and girls, to participate in the technological transformations shaping the future.

The visit also resulted in the signature of a Fund-in-Trust Agreement to strengthen capacities for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention in Africa and the Asia-Pacific region.

During his visit, the Director-General also participated in the opening of the 2026 World Digital Education Conference in Hangzhou, where discussions focused on the opportunities and challenges created by artificial intelligence and digital transformation in education. Exchanges emphasized the importance of ensuring that technology remains human-centred, ethical and inclusive, while helping bridge educational gaps between and within countries.