TOKYO: Japan’s Foreign Minister HAYASHI Yoshimasa held telephone talks with Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), on Friday and expressed his pleasure that the United States will return to UNESCO.

Director-General Azoulay expressed her appreciation for Japan’s active cooperation for the return of the US to UNESCO. 

Reports say the United States plans to rejoin the UN body in July and will pay more than $600 million in back dues. The USsuspended its contributions in 2011 before notifying UNESCO of its decision to withdraw on October 12, 2017, after a long dispute sparked by the organization’s move to include Palestine as a member.

The US previously pulled out of UNESCO under the Reagan administration in 1984 because it viewed the agency as mismanaged, corrupt and said it was being used to advance Soviet interests. It rejoined in 2003.

Hayashi stated that Japan welcomes the announcement by the US that it intends to return to UNESCO, a move, some reports say, that has been prompted by China’s rise to power.  

Hayashi and Azoulay agreed to continue close coordination to further strengthen Japan-UNESCO cooperation, including in education and cultural heritage protection in Ukraine.