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China's development contributs to the world: UNESCO official

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-09-22 14:47

China's rapid development was a great contribution to the whole world and all nations were benefiting from it, UNESCO's Vice Director General told Xinhua on Saturday.

Marcio Barbosa said China's achievement in education was one of the most satisfying parts of the country's progress.

"I think the progress China has obtained in education is fantastic and very important for UNESCO," he said.

"We cannot forget the basis of development, which is education, the quality of people's lives and the determination of hard work, you have all of these," Barbosa said.

Barbosa expressed his optimism about China's future, saying "the country, with a population of 1.3 billion, is full of hope."

"I believe China will continue to make successes on the international stage," he said.

When asked what in China had left the biggest impression on him, the Brazilian official said it was undoubtedly the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

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"For me, the Beijing Olympic Games was the most important moment, because it was the opportunity to show the world the real China, and I think it was a great success."

"We have seen the change and all the infrastructure work China undertook for the Games. It was an extraordinary and incredible change," Barbosa said.

Barbosa's links with China started when he was in charge of Brazil's Space Agency in the late 1980s, and, when he was appointed vice director general of UNESCO in 2001, his engagement with China in education, culture and science increased.

Last year's Sichuan earthquake was another important memory for Barbosa.

"During my last trip to China, three months after the earthquake, I visited two global heritage sites, which are on the protection list of UNESCO and had sufferred damage. I was surprised to see the reparation works being undertaking even when conditions were still terrible, which demonstrated the responsibility of the Chinese people and the authorities," he said.

Ten days before China's National Day on October 1, Barbosa expressed his congratulations for the 60th anniversary of the People's Republic of China. "Certainly, the Chinese people should be proud of and content with the progress achieved in their country. It is a country that has changed the people's lives through years of enthusiastic work. The progress we observed is remarkable."

"China is going to celebrate its 60th birthday, and the 60 years is a phase of peace and stablization and full of industrious work. I wish this kind of development continues, all the world will benefit from it," he said.