The Arab Republic of Egypt participated in the 216th session of the Executive Council of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), held in the French capital of Paris on May 14-15.

Egypt was represented in the work of the 216th session by Dr. Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Chairman of the Egyptian National Committee for UNESCO and Egypt's representative in the Executive Council of UNESCO.

Higher Education and Scientific Research Minister Ayman Ashour, Chairman of the Egyptian National Commission for UNESCO, delivered Egypt's speech before the 216th session of the Executive Council held at the UNESCO headquarters in the French capital, Paris.

Ashour affirmed keenness on promoting fruitful cooperation between Egypt and UNESCO. 

He also drew attention to the UNESCO's support to the Action on Water, Adaptation, and Resilience (AWARe) international initiative.

The minister, meanwhile, announced full support to the nomination of former minister of tourism and antiquities Khaled el Enany to the position of director general of UNESCO.

Enany has been a professor in the Tourism Guidance Department, Faculty of Tourism and Hotel Management (FTH), Helwan University (HU) since 2011.

He has various academic, scientific, administrative and executive experiences, in Egypt and abroad. During his career, he has developed a strong international network with many governments, institutions and organizations, visiting more than 25 countries for academic purposes, official meetings, conferences and events.

Ashour, also, met with the presidents of a number of universities in Paris to discuss means of establishing branches for French universities in Egypt and launch joint programs with non-governmental and governmental universities.