Indian UNESCO Envoy Holds Productive Talks with Culture Secretary
Vishal V. Sharma, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of India to UNESCO, accompanied by a delegation from UNESCO Paris, met with Shri Vivek Aggarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Culture, at Shastri Bhawan in New Delhi on July 22, 2025.
Discussion Focus
The meeting centred on cultural initiatives, including India’s upcoming UNESCO partnerships, preservation of intangible heritage, and callbacks on joint programmes. Both sides discussed ongoing collaborations and possible new projects to enhance cultural diplomacy and knowledge exchange.
Institutional Collaboration
The delegation emphasised UNESCO’s commitment to promoting cultural diversity in India. Secretary Aggarwal reaffirmed India’s support for UNESCO’s global agenda on heritage protection, digital archiving, and educational exchange programmes.
Next Steps in Cultural Cooperation
Officials agreed to set up working groups to identify priority areas for technical support, capacity-building, and co-hosted cultural events. A follow-up visit from UNESCO experts to key heritage and museum sites was also proposed to strengthen implementation.
This high-level meeting marks a significant advancement in India–UNESCO cultural collaboration, paving the way for joint heritage and capacity development projects.
For more insights into India’s cultural diplomacy and partnerships, visit gpsc-ojas.com/news/.
