30 years of UNESCO cooperation between Romania and the Reggio Calabria region - heritage, intercultural dialogue and European friendship

15-17 March 2026

An event dedicated to the celebration of 30 of years of collaboration between the clubs for UNESCO in Romania and those in the Reggio Calabria area (Italy) takes place during 15-17 March 2026, bringing together representatives of the club movement, of local authorities and the cultural environment.

event, organized by the Club for UNESCO in Reggio Calabria, in partnership with the Romanian Federation of Associations and Clubs for UNESCO, highlights the continuity of a Romanian-Italian partnership built in the spirit of the values ​​promoted by UNESCO: education, culture, patrimony, solidarity and dialogue between communities.

The main event took place in the town of Motta San Giovanni, within the FICLU national project dedicated to geoparks, parks and local communities, under the title "Patrimonio e dialogo interculturale".: continuity, friendship and sharing”.

Daniela Popescu participated in the demonstration, president of the Alumnus Club, General Secretary of the Romanian Federation of Associations and Clubs for UNESCO and Vice-President for Europe of the World Federation of Associations and Clubs for UNESCO, together with representatives of the Italian network of clubs for UNESCO and of the local administration led by the mayor of the town. The hosts of the event were coordinated by the architect Alberto Gioffrè, national advisor of the Italian Federation of Associations and Clubs for UNESCO and president of the UNESCO Club of Reggio Calabria.

The program included a series of activities dedicated to the cultural heritage and memory of local communities, including visiting the Miners' Archive of Motta San Giovanni, institution proposed for inclusion in the UNESCO "Memory of the World" program, as well as a cultural itinerary that included the historic area of ​​the town and the Byzantine fortifications at Castello di Santo Niceto, an important landmark of the region's medieval heritage.

One of the important moments of the event was the awarding of a Diploma of Gratitude to the Club for UNESCO in Reggio Calabria, in appreciation for the three decades of dialogue, cooperation and joint projects developed between organizations for UNESCO in Romania and Italy. The diploma emphasizes that, through cultural and educational initiatives, as well as through projects dedicated to young people, the Romanian-Italian partnership demonstrated that UNESCO values ​​can become living bridges between communities, generations and nations.

The event represented, ALSO, an opportunity to reaffirm the shared commitment to further cooperation in areas such as heritage education, intercultural dialogue, sustainable development and youth involvement in UNESCO network activities.

After three decades of collaboration, in a year in which Romania celebrates 70 years of activity in UNESCO, the partnership between the UNESCO clubs in Romania and those in Calabria remains an example of European cooperation built on trust, friendship and shared responsibility, confirming the role of civil society in promoting the values ​​and mission of UNESCO.

Ladies and gentlemen, dear guests,

Good evening, Ni Hao!

It is a great pleasure to be here tonight for the dance performance presented by the Confucius Institute of ESCE, in celebration of the Chinese New Year of the Horse.

As vice-president of the World Federation of UNESCO Associations, I have had the privilege of visiting China on numerous occasions. One of these experiences stands out in particular: my participation in the Dunhuang International Arts Week last summer. Standing in the Mogao Caves, facing the millennial frescoes, I felt strongly that these works were not just witnesses to the past, but the living expression of a civilization still in motion. This moment has deeply strengthened the connection I feel with Chinese culture.

Chinese culture, in particular, it fascinates me with its richness and depth. Rooted in a history and traditions that span millennia, it is also distinguished by its ability to evolve, to engage in the contemporary world and embrace innovation. This alliance between heritage and modernity gives it such remarkable vitality.

The show presented tonight, "Legend in Dance", it offers a dialogue that transcends time and cultures. It fully resonates with the mission of the World Federation of UNESCO Associations: to encourage intercultural dialogue, to value the diversity of cultural expressions and to support the living transmission of traditions. More than a show, it is a real bridge between civilizations, a bridge of understanding and harmony.

I would like to express my deep gratitude to the Confucius Institute of ESCE for organizing this event and to warmly thank the Paris Chinese Dance Company and the Chinese and French artists who will share this exceptional moment with us, as well as to Mr. Mao Qiang and all the teams involved for their outstanding work.

In the end, may the Year of the Horse bring health to all, happiness and energy. I wish this show a huge success and I hope you all have a wonderful evening.

thank you!

Today, 15 January, we celebrate the Day of National Culture, a day of deep significance for our Romanian identity, inseparably linked to the birth of the national poet Mihai Eminescu.

Eminescu is not only a great poet, but a consciousness of the Romanian culture, a voice that gave the language eternity. Through his work, he managed to grasp the longing, love, nature, the history and aspirations of an entire people.

The fact that we are today at the Romance Museum in Târgoviște adds a special emotion to this celebration, because romance, like Eminence poetry, talk about the soul, about sensitivity and what unites us beyond time.

Celebrating culture, we celebrate ourselves, our roots and responsibility to carry forward the values ​​that define us as a nation.
Happy Birthday, Romanian culture!
Happy Birthday, Mihai Eminescu