Public Diplomacy
Meeting between Foreign Minister IWAYA and H.E. Ms. Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO
May 2, 2025
On May 2, commencing at 4:30 p.m. local time (11:30 p.m. May 2 JST) for approximately 35 minutes, Mr. IWAYA Takeshi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, held a meeting with H.E. Ms. Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The overview of the meeting is as follows.
- Minister Iwaya stated that he was pleased to meet Director-General Azoulay for the first time and paid tribute to her strong leadership over the past eight years. He emphasized that Japan has consistently supported UNESCO across various fields, including education, science, and culture. He also highlighted Japan’s support for UNESCO’s efforts in conflict regions such as Ukraine, Gaza, and Lebanon, particularly in the protection of cultural heritage and the safety of journalists, expressing Japan’s intention to continue working with UNESCO to contribute to peace and security in the international community.
- Director-General Azoulay welcomed Minister Iwaya’s visit to UNESCO Headquarters and expressed her appreciation for Japan’s longstanding contributions across various fields including cultural heritage.
- Both sides concurred to continue cooperation and further develop the relationship between Japan and UNESCO in various fields.