In early 1971, China began participating in scientific cooperative projects such as the Program on Man and the Biosphere and the International Hydrological Program. Since the founding of the China National Commission for UNESCO in 1979, priority has been given to cooperative scientific and technological projects.

Since 1977, Chinese delegations have attended various sessions of the IOC. In 1982, the Chinese delegation attended the Second Regional Conference of Ministers of Sciences and Those Responsible for Economic Planning in Asia and the Pacific, and in 1993, a Chinese delegation headed by Zhou Guangzhao, president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, attended the High Level Expert Meeting of Solar Energy held in Paris. In addition, China has sent delegations to annual meetings sponsored by the councils for inter-governmental cooperative programs, such as the Program on Man and the Biosphere, the International Hydrological Program, Program of General Information, Inter-Governmental Information Program and International Geological Correlation Program. Chinese delegates have on many occasions chaired the meetings, or have otherwise contributed.

The Program on Man and Biosphere centers on comprehensive studies of the natural laws of various biological systems, including forests, grasslands, deserts, islands and mountains, as well as human influence on the biosphere. Over the past 20 years, China has consistently been the most active member nation and made valuable contributions to the effort. At present, China has 10 nature reserves listed as world biosphere protected areas, including reserves on Dinghu, Wuyi, Changbai and Fanjing mountains, as well as the Xilin Gol Grasslands, Shengrongjia, Bogeda Peak, Yancheng and Xishuangbanna, and the Wolong Giant Panda Natural Reserves. The China Biosphere Protection Network was formally established in 1994.

In terms of the International Hydrological Program, the International Sedimentation Research and Training Center, founded in China 10 years ago, has trained a large number of hydrogeological conservators for developing countries in the Asia-Pacific Region. Chinese geologists have participated in some 30 research projects annually in the International Geological Correlation Program, with eight projects carried out under the leadership of Chinese scholars. UNESCO is currently preparing to hold the 30th International Conference on Geology in 1996, which is expected to attract over 1,000 delegates to Beijing.

Since 1987, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and related institutes of higher education have jointly organized a summer physics school held between July and August each year. Foreign physicists have been invited to lecture, always receiving a warm welcome.

Cooperation regarding the engineering sciences has been steadily strengthened. Over the past two years, UNESCO and the China National Commission have jointly sponsored the Round-Table Meeting on Energy Strategy Issues in China, the High Level Expert Meeting on Clean Coal Technology in China, International High Level Expert Meeting on Solar Energy and the Second Conference on North-South Human Genome, all of which attracted the widespread attention of both Chinese and foreign experts.

Chinese scientists have also established a close cooperative relationship with the UNESCO Scientific and Technological Agency in Southeast Asia. They have participated in activities involving the scientific and technological networks in physical education, microbiology, exchanges of scientific and technological information, applied rural technology, natural chemical products and energy substitutes.

Cultural exchanges

In 1982, a Chinese government delegation, headed by the then Minister of Culture Zhu Muzhi, attended the Second World Cultural Policies Conference sponsored by UNESCO. The Chinese delegation expounded its stand on international cultural cooperation and participated in drafting the now famous Mexico City Declaration and other important resolutions. Since then, Chinese government officials and scholars have been invited to attend various cultural meetings on different levels.

The effort to provide the international community with a comprehensive look at cultural development in China includes publication of The Collection of Chinese Culture which is filled with magnificent photographs, and China's Cultural Policies which was authored by Chinese scholars and published by UNESCO. The works have been distributed to all member nations. Chinese classics such as A Dream of Red Mansions and various modern cultural works are in the UNESCO collection of famous literary works from around the world.

UNESCO cooperated with China in sponsoring the Chinese Painting Exhibition in Paris, with UNESCO providing financial assistance to enable concerned units to compile and publish two coffe-table albums entitled Album of Chinese Contemporary Paintings and Album of Chinese Contemporary Oil Paintings.

Over the past 10 years, various Chinese departments and UNESCO have cooperated in the translation and publication of scores of special works, as well as a number of magazines and periodicals related to culture, education, and the natural and social sciences. Chinese scholars have joined in the UNESCO effort to compile full-length works on history and culture, including the History of Scientific and Cultural Development of Mankind and the History of Civilization of Central Asia. China formally joined UNESCO's Universal Copyright Convention in August 1992.

China, the largest country in Asia, has long paid great attention to expanding exchanges and cooperation with other countries in the Asia-Pacific Region. Over the past decade, China has joined with UNESCO to sponsor several large-scale regional cultural and art exchanges activities, such as the Asian Dance Symposium (1982), the Symposium on Traditional Music in Asia and the Pacific (1987), the Fourth Asia-Pacific Regional Assembly of National Library Directors (1989), the International Council of Museums in Asia and the Pacific (1989), the Fourth Asia-Pacific Regional Conference of International Museum Council (1989) and the Symposium on Traditional Opera in Asia and Pacific.

UNESCO adopted the Convention Concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage in 1972 and has since launched large-scale international cooperation. China signed the convention in 1985. Since that time, Beijing's Palace Museum, the Great Wall, the Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum and Terra-Cotta Warriors and Horses, Dunghuang Mogao Grottoes, Huangshan and Taishan mountains, and other eight cultural and natural sites have been listed in the World Heritage List.

The United Nations has declared the period between 1988-97 as the World Decade for Cultural Development. Plans for the 10-year period call for UNESCO to organize several large-scale cooperative cultural projects of worldwide significance. One of the most important projects, which has already been completed, was the Integral Studies of the Silk Road, Road of Dialogue. China, home of the Silk Road, actively participated in the project. The China National Commission for UNESCO and other concerned departments used extensive UNESCO support to undertake the first ever expeditionary research project, which began in the ancient capital Xian, proceeded to the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region via the Hexi Corridor, and ended in Kashi, the terminus of the Desert Route Expedition (the Chinese section). The exploratory effort was a resounding success.