Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) meets with Irina Bokova, director-general of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), in Paris June 30, 2015. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang met with Irina Bokova, the director-general of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) here on Tuesday and the two sides discussed issues concerning culture, education and other areas.

Li lauded UNESCO's efforts in promoting the diversity of world civilizations, pushing forward education and international cultural exchanges in developing countries and protecting the cultural heritage of humanity.

China is willing to enhance cooperation with UNESCO in education, culture and other areas, and to promote mutual respect for and equal treatment of different civilizations and cultures so that they can realize solidarity and harmonious development through tolerance and mutual learning, Li said.

Bokova said that since its establishment 70 years ago, UNESCO has exerted unremitting efforts in maintaining world peace and human dignity.

The organization has always attaches great importance to relations with China, and is willing to deepen cooperation with China and serve as a bridge in promoting people-to-people exchanges and mutual learning between different countries, she added.