Dr Matsuura has advanced a wide range of programmes including universal basic education, freshwater management and the preservation of living arts and culture.
The Director-General was also presented with the "Appeal of Tomorrow's Kyoto Cultural Heritage Platform" by its President Mr. Koichiro Matsuura -- a Platform that was established to ensure the long-term protection of cultural heritage in the city of Kyoto following the earthquake and tsunami that affected Japan in March 2011.
Mr Matsuura welcomed the proposal as a "great initiative that will help to bridge the knowledge divide, promote mutual understanding, and foster cultural and linguistic diversity".