On March 18, 2013, H. E. Mr. 0.yai, Former Chairman of UNESCO Executive Board and Permanent Delegate and Ambassador of Benin to UNESCO, accompanied by Mr. Shao Weiliang, from the Secretariat of Chinese National Commission for UNESCO, visited the International Center on Space Technologies for Natural and Cultural Heritage under the Auspices of UNSECO (HIST) which was built on the premise of the Institute of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth (RADI) and of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).
Accompanied by Hong Tianhua, Deputy Director and Secretary-General of HIST, Mr. 0.yai watched the 3-D Video Show on Observing and Understanding the World Heritage and visited the Operation Hall of the Remote Sensing Satellite Receiving Network.
After the visit, the two sides held a discussion. Mr. Hong conveyed to Mr. 0.yai the greetings of Prof. Guo Huadong, Director of HIST and RADI, and gave a brief introduction to HIST on its research work, international training and collaboration. Prof. Wang Xinyuan, Deputy-Director of HIST, Prof. Chen Fulong and Prof. Wang Cheng from HIST Research Center and Prof. He Guojin, Chief of HIST Data Processing Department introduced their work respectively. Mr. 0.yai spoke highly of the achievements HIST had made in the field of applying space technologies in conservation of world heritage and said that he would actively promote the collaboration between China and Africa. After the discussion, Hong Tianhua presented to Mr. 0.yai the Atlas of Remote Sensing for World Heritage: China (the English version).