University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Prof Abdul Mannan attended a three-day International Conference on “Bridging Diverse Cultures towards an Inclusive Asia and Pacific Community” that ended on Monday.
The conference is a biannual event of the East West Center and East-West Center Association of Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, held in Manila.
A total of 275 participants from 26 countries attended the conference. The key note address on the opening day was given by Benigno S Aquino III, President of the Philippines.
Aquino in his speech underscored the need for cooperation amongst the nations of the Pacific region for economic and cultural growth and emphasized that in the 21st. century it will be nations of the Asia-Pacific region that will dominate the world.
He also said that terrorism and intolerance in the name of religion will not only destroy the peace in the region but also destroy nations. Aquino also said that the strength of Asia-Pacific region lies in its diversity that has existed over hundreds of years.
Prof Mannan participated the conference as a speaker of a session “Education Past and Future” and shared the success stories of the education sector of Bangladesh and emphasized that there are many things.
that can be shared amongst the countries of the Asia-Pacific region for the betterment of the people.
He also said countries of this region may not have natural resources but its most valuable resource is its young population that needs to be transformed into skillful human resources.
