Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)– The three-day ‘Cultural Diversity Ministerial Forum (CDMF) of the Asia-Pacific Region 2012’ ended in Dhaka on Friday adopting the `Dhaka Declaration’.
The declaration calls for strengthening regional cultural cooperation to bring forth sustainable and human development in the region.
The forum also stressed collecting and sharing information to promote the diversity of cultural expressions with a view to enriching indigenous culture in the Asia-Pacific countries.
The Ministry of Cultural Affairs and the UNESCO jointly organized the event at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre to encourage more countries in the region to ratify the UN Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions 2005.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on May 9 formally inaugurated the forum as the chief guest while UNESCO director general Irina Bokova was present as the guest of honour. The theme of the forum was ‘Common forum within Asia and Pacific region’.
Information and Cultural Affairs Minister Abul Kalam Azad and UNESCO director general Irina Bokova spoke at the concluding ceremony of the mega cultural event.
On the last day of the event on Friday, the meeting adopted a number of policy objectives, including integrating culture into sustainable development programs; promoting participatory governance for culture; promoting cultural and creative industries; and encouraging cultural exchange and cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.
The meeting also urged the UNESCO to assist to implement the Dhaka Declaration throughout the region by raising awareness among the Asia-Pacific countries towards increasing ratification as well as facilitating its implementation by the parties.
The meeting was participated by representatives from 33 countries of the region – Bangladesh, India, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Iran, Kiribati, Kazakhstan, Laos, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, South Korea, Papua New Guinea, Palau, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste, Thailand, Tonga, Vietnam, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Cambodia, Marshal Islands, Brunei, China, Cook Islands, Fiji, Indonesia, Myanmar, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
BBN/SSR/AD-12May12-10:50 am (BST)
