From May 15 to 17, an international symposium on UNESCO Category 2 Centers (C2Cs) in the Natural Sciences was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Organized by UNESCO, the International Science, Technology and Innovation Centre for South-South Cooperation (ISTIC), the Permanent Mission of Malaysia to UNESCO and the Malaysian National Commission for UNESCO, the meeting was attended by Lidia Brito, Assistant Director-General of UNESCO, who delivered speeches and presentations throughout the meeting. Fadhlina Sidek, Minister of Education of Malaysia, and Chang Lih Kang, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation of Malaysia, attended and delivered speeches respectively. Thirty-four UNESCO Category 2 Centers from 23 countries attended the meeting and exchanged ideas on "Science-based cooperation and key activities for sustainable development". As the first UNESCO Category 2 Centers in the world, the International Research and Training Center on Erosion and Sedimentation (IRTCES) participated in the symposium and exchanged presentations, made group summary speeches and exhibitions.

Seminar venue.

UNESCO Assistant Director-General Lidia Brito made presentations on "UNESCO's Priorities and Actions in the Natural Sciences" and "The International Decade of Science for Sustainable Development". Lidia Brito, Fadhlina Sidek, Minister of Education of Malaysia, and Chang Lih Kang, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, highlighted UNESCO's scientific and technological role in the United Nations sustainable development agenda in the areas of Water security, Sustainable management of natural resources, Disaster mitigation and climate change action, and Innovation in the basic sciences and engineering technologies, and explained the role of UNESCO in the areas of Water sciences, Ecological and earth sciences, Science and technology policy and basic sciences, Small island development, Disaster mitigation and climate change. The plan of action in Water sciences, Ecological and earth sciences, Science and technology policy and basic sciences, Small island development, and Disaster mitigation was presented, as well as the vision, objectives, mandate and main outputs of the “International Decade of Science for Sustainable Development”. In particular, it was noted that UNESCO Category 2 Centers (C2Cs) have become increasingly important in the implementation of the corresponding programmes and actions, and have become a vital conduit of expertise and resources to address pressing global challenges. More than just a repository of knowledge, Category 2 Centers have become active agents of change in fostering cooperation and innovation on a global scale, particularly in advancing the United Nations sustainable development agenda in Member States.

Presentation on “The International Decade of Science for Sustainable Development” by Lidia Brito, Assistant Director-General, UNESCO

Presentations from UNESCO's Science, Technology, Innovation and Policy Division, Capacity Development and Water Sector Coordination Division, Biosphere Reserves and Capacity Building Division, and project experts Ezra Clark, Rahmah Elfithri, Hans Thulstrup, ZHAO Jing, Faduma Ali, and Fereshteh Rafieian gave presentations from their respective fields. Thirty-four Category 2 Centers from all over the world exchanged and discussed on five topics: Water Science Research, Education and Capacity Development, Centers for Sustainable Development: UNESCO Locations and Networks, Water and Disaster Mitigation, Responding to Global Crisis: Climate Change and Biodiversity, and Revolutionary Changes in Engineering Capacity Building for Sustainable Development Goals. Prof. ZHANG Jianli, Deputy Director of IRTCES, shared and exchanged views on the background of IRTCES, the challenges it faces, the advantages of its platform, the role it plays as a bridge in the International Sediment Initiative, project cooperation, international conferences, international training, popular science education, open science and open data, and future cooperation.

Presentation exchange and expert discussion by IRTCES on the topic “Water and Disaster Reduction”.

Participants also worked in small groups to conduct in-depth discussions on topics such as "Key benefits of UNESCO Category 2 Centers", "Key challenges and solutions for UNESCO Category 2 Centers", "How UNESCO Category 2 Centers can support UNESCO in achieving its priorities and actions", "How to strengthen cooperation among UNESCO Category 2 Centers", and "UNESCO, Permanent Missions and National Committees in their roles " were discussed in depth. IRTCES, as the representative of Group III, held an in-depth discussion on the following topics and made concluding remarks as group representatives.

Concluding remarks of the panel by the IRTCES.

During the conference, an exhibition of Category 2 Centers was also held, and UNESCO Assistant Director-General Lidia Brito, Malaysian Minister of Education Fadhlina Sidek, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Chang Lih Kang, as well as relevant experts visited the exhibition of the IRTCES, and exchanged views on topics of interest.

Lidia Brito, Assistant Director-General of UNESCO, and Fadhlina Sidek, Minister of Education of Malaysia, visit the IRTCES exhibition.

Lidia Brito, Assistant Director-General of UNESCO, and Chang Lih Kang, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation of Malaysia, visit IRTCES exhibition.

Group photo of some conference delegates.