OREANDA-NEWS. Panasonic Corporation and UNESCO announced the renewal of their strategic partnership agreement today. The new agreement will run for two years from June 2013 to May 2015.

The strategic framework agreement was signed by UNESCO Director-General, Ms. Irina Bokova and Senior Managing Executive Officer of Panasonic Corporation, Mr. Takumi Kajisha, on June 18, 2013, in Phnom Penh in the Kingdom of Cambodia, on the occasion of the 37th session of the World Heritage Committee. The partnership aims to raise awareness about the conservation of UNESCO World Heritage sites and to promote environmental education for the next generation through the World Heritage Education Program. Through this partnership, Panasonic has promoted joint programs in the fields of "education for the next generation", "communication", and "technological support" over the past two years (June 2011 to May 2013). Following the renewal of the partnership agreement, Panasonic plans to further actively promote and develop these programs in the future.

In the field of "education for the next generation", Panasonic has hosted the "World Heritage Eco Learning Program" at 11 different World Heritage sites in ten countries to promote the importance of World Heritage to children. The program, a collaboration between Panasonic, the UNESCO World Heritage Centre and selected World Heritage sites, offers children the opportunity to visit World Heritage sites around the world and learn about UNESCO's work. Approximately 4,000 children have taken part in the program to date. This year, on June 17, the "World Heritage Eco Learning Program" was held at Angkor in Cambodia, and was officially recognized by the Japanese Embassy in Cambodia as part of the celebrations for the 60th anniversary of Cambodia-Japan relations.

In the field of "communication", Panasonic has worked in partnership with the National Geographic Channel to present a World Heritage-focused television program called "THE WORLD HERITAGE SPECIAL". Since the start of the program in June 2011, it has been broadcast in 193 countries and regions (440 million households) around the world.

Panasonic has signed up to continue sponsoring the "THE WORLD HERITAGE SPECIAL" with the National Geographic Channel for a further two years.

Finally, in the field of "technological support", in addition to supplying its audiovisual equipment to the UNESCO headquarters, Panasonic has also supplied its latest 3D technology with "Dive into World Heritage 3D", a 3D system which allows the viewer to experience the World Heritage sites as if they were there, and has also provided media training in recording and editing techniques to young volunteers engaged in World Heritage preservation. In addition, the company has also established a project to replace incandescent light bulbs with energy-saving LED lights at World Heritage sites in Japan, including Shirakawa-Go in Gifu Prefecture, Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto, and Itsukushima Shrine in Hiroshima, as well as other World Heritage sites around the world, such as Prague Castle in the Czech Republic.

Over the next two years, Panasonic will provide its audiovisual systems, such as its High Definition Video Communication system, and other audiovisual equipment to the UNESCO headquarters and field offices. The company will also donate its solar LED lanterns to regions without electricity, and continue its efforts in the replacement of incandescent light bulbs with LED lights at World Heritage sites around the world. In addition, Panasonic has been producing the World Heritage Calendar since 1995, and since fiscal year 2011 (ending March 2011), has been distributing a World Heritage Calendar application for computers, smartphones and tablets. This application has been distributed to approximately 9,000 UNESCO schools in 180 countries worldwide as an educational tool.

Through this strategic partnership agreement, Panasonic and UNESCO will continue to contribute to the conservation of World Heritage sites and the preservation of the environment, as well as to the education of the next generation.