AKIPRESS.COM - Agreement between the Government of Kazakhstan and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on the establishment of the International Center for the Rapprochement of Cultures under the auspices of UNESCO was signed June 25, in Paris, the Foreign Ministry of Kazakhstan reports.

The agreement was signed by UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay and Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Gulshara Abdykalikova.

The proposed structure is planned to be created under the auspices of UNESCO on the basis of the Center for the Rapprochement of Cultures under the Ministry of Culture and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The relevant Kazakhstan initiative was approved by the 39th General Conference of the Organization in November 2017.

The objectives of the Center will be the promotion of research, the preparation of publications, the organization of conferences and educational activities on the history and practice of intercultural interaction in Central Asia and beyond.

Azoulay stressed the constructive contribution of Kazakhstan to the work of UNESCO and expressed confidence that the new Center will facilitate intercultural dialogue on a global and regional scale.