President Xi Jinping said on Thursday that China is willing to work more closely with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in enhancing heritage protection and promoting cultural exchanges, thus contributing to global common development.

At a meeting with UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay in Beijing, Xi said that over the years, China has been supporting the work of UNESCO and actively undertaking various initiatives with the organization.

China-UNESCO cooperation is significant and contributes to advancing global peace and development, and it is necessary to carry on with such valuable cooperation, said Xi.

The world is composed of diverse civilizations and China is among the countries with the longest histories and oldest cultures, he added.

The president stressed that China has more than 1.4 billion people, so its tremendous development alone is an important contribution to the progress of human civilization.

As China is striving to build itself into a great modern socialist country in all respects, it follows the strategy of invigorating the nation through science and education, and is committed to expanding the development of education, science and technology and culture, Xi said.

China attaches great importance to international exchanges and cooperation with all parties, including UNESCO, he added.

Azoulay said the Chinese government has always supported the work of UNESCO. The UNESCO Prize for Girls' and Women's Education funded by China has played an important role in promoting education globally among women and girls, she said.

UNESCO is satisfied with the extensive consensus and good cooperation with China in various fields and hopes to further strengthen exchanges with China in cultural heritage protection, as well as in science, culture, technology and other fields, Azoulay said.

mojingxi@chinadaily.com.cn