BEIJING — China and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on May 13 agreed to enhance cooperation on the Belt and Road.

When meeting with UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova, Vice-Premier Liu Yandong said people-to-people bonds, one of the key areas to advance the Belt and Road Initiative, closely match the ideas promoted by UNESCO.

Bokova is in Beijing to attend the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation scheduled for May 14 to 15.

China and UNESCO should strengthen cooperation on Belt and Road construction, and carry forward people-to-people exchanges and mutual learning among different civilizations to contribute to the building of a community of shared future for mankind, Liu said.

Expressing gratitude to China for its longtime support to UNESCO, Bokova said many initiatives proposed by China have set good examples for the international community, and UNESCO is willing to strengthen pragmatic cooperation with China in the fields of the Belt and Road, and jointly help realize the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

After the meeting, Liu and Bokova signed an MOU on cooperation between China and UNESCO.