The meeting, co-held by UNESCO and Vietnam's National Commission for UNESCO, was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem and Chairman of the UNESCO Executive Board Zhang Xinsheng.

The four-day meeting aims to specify challenges, opportunities and common demands of the region and the world in the coming time and make suggestions for the development of UNESCO's six-year strategy for the 2008-2013 period and its budget programme for the 2008-2009 period.

The meeting will also review UNESCO's activities over the past 60 years and discuss measures to boost its reform and improve its role and effectiveness in the future.

Deputy Prime Minister Khiem spoke highly of the co-operation between Vietnam and UNESCO in improving educational quality, building a learning society, acquiring new scientific and technological achievements, preserving cultural and natural values and protecting the environment.

UNESCO's forums have created more opportunities for Vietnam to join hands in addressing humankind's common issues and to expand and consolidate the mutual friendship and cooperation with other countries in the region and the world, Mr Khiem said.