As part of the strategic planning process for the UNESCO Beijing Office, Mr. JO Chol Su, Secretary General of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) National Commission for UNESCO, presented a series of recommendations aimed at strengthening regional cooperation and enhancing UNESCO’s impact over the next five years.

In his remarks, he highlighted that the ongoing global pandemic has posed significant challenges to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), limiting activities in UNESCO’s core areas of education, science, and culture. In this context, he stressed the importance of adopting innovative strategies to transform these challenges into opportunities.

Mr. JO Chol Su emphasized the role of the UNESCO Beijing Office as a key regional hub for Northeast Asia, noting that one of its primary tasks should be to strengthen dialogue, coordination, and collaboration with Member States and their National Commissions.

He also proposed establishing mechanisms to facilitate the regular exchange of experiences, best practices, and lessons learned among countries, in order to enhance international cooperation and improve responses to global crises.

In the field of education, he underlined the importance of advancing digital education systems (e-learning) and strengthening information and communication technology (ICT) education, as key measures to ensure educational continuity in times of crisis.

He further highlighted national efforts to strengthen education and scientific research, as well as the implementation of social policies such as child nutrition programs aimed at improving living conditions.

In terms of culture and environment, he pointed out the potential of the Northeast Asian region to develop initiatives related to heritage protection, ecotourism, and biodiversity conservation.

Finally, he called for stronger international cooperation, emphasizing that the current global health crisis has underscored the urgent need for more equitable and collaborative development among nations.