As the first Chinese to be elected as the chairman of the
Executive Board of United Nation's Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and Vice-Minister of Education
Zhang Xinsheng stepped out of Beijing's Capital International
Airport with a big smile yesterday.
In a blue suit, Zhang showed no trace of fatigue after a long
journey from Paris. The first sentence he said referring to his
election was: "I feel very much honoured, but also, the
responsibilities I shoulder are heavy."
Zhang, also China's representative to the board, won 41 votes
from the 58 board members in the first round of voting at the 173rd
session of the board on Monday in France, thus replacing
Hans-Heinrich Wrede of Germany, who had served as the board
chairman since October 2003.
In a speech after his election, Zhang stressed that "the time
has come for all of us to intensify our commitment to an even
stronger UNESCO," and highlighted the need for harmony and synergy
among different UNESCO organizations.
He re-emphasized yesterday that in his two-year term he would
dedicate himself to the further development and reform of UNESCO,
and said his election showed that "China's efforts in developing
education, science and culture had gained recognition
worldwide."
Yasuyuki Aoshima, director and representative of the UNESCO
office in Beijing, joined the welcoming group at the airport. He
spoke highly of Zhang's successful election and said "it's a
milestone for China in the history of UNESCO."
Aoshima said the ability and quality that Zhang showed while
chairing the 2004 session of UNESCO's World Heritage Committee in
Suzhou, East China's Jiangsu Province, boosted him in the
voting.
"But more importantly, he was elected because China has been
strongly committed to the development of education, science and
culture in the country," Aoshima said. "I'm very optimistic that
the Chinese Government will do more in the future to support
UNESCO's programmes and ideas."
(China Daily October 28, 2005)
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