UNESCO hosted a regional consultation for Asia and the Pacific States on 5-6 February 2025, chaired by Shri. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Minister of Culture and Tourism, Government of India. The consultation convened representatives, including ministers, deputy ministers, intergovernmental organizations, regional NGOs, Category II Centers, and UNESCO Chairs, from 39 Member States across the Asia-Pacific region.

Discussions centered on the six themes of MONDIACULT 2025, encompassing cultural rights, digital technologies in the cultural sector, the cultural economy, climate action, culture for peace and artificial intelligence in culture, and emerging concerns affecting the sector.

"UNESCO continues to advance the right to participate in and enjoy culture as a source of development, equity, social cohesion, innovation, diversity, collaboration, solidarity and peace." said Ernesto Ottone R., UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture.

This regional consultation provided an opportunity for the participants to share ideas and perspectives on positioning culture as a stand-alone goal in the post-2030 UN Sustainable Development Agenda.

"In the New Delhi Leaders' Declaration of 2023, under India's presidency, culture was unanimously endorsed as a standalone goal in the post-2030 development framework for the first time. We must strengthen our advocacy for culture as a stand-alone goal in the post-2030 development agenda to catalyze efforts towards fully harnessing the economic and societal value of the cultural and creative sector for inclusive and sustainable development." said Shri. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Minister of Culture and Tourism, Government of India.

Building on the MONDIACULT 2022 Declaration, participants reaffirmed the importance of cultural rights, diversity, and rights-based policies. Key recommendations included integrating culture and arts into education, strengthening digital frameworks, incorporating Indigenous knowledge into climate strategies, ensuring ethical AI governance, and promoting international cooperation.

Discussions also highlighted the need for inclusive policies, sustainable funding, and robust data frameworks to monitor progress. Bridging the digital divide and supporting creative industries were also prioritized, balancing economic growth with cultural integrity.

"Peace, culture, and development constitute an essential triangle that prevents conflicts. A primary goal of the UNESCO World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development MONDIACULT 2025, hosted in Barcelona, is to advocate for culture as a standalone goal in the post-2030 development agenda." said Jordi Martí Grau, Vice-minister of Culture of the Kingdom of Spain.

During this regional consultation, Member States collectively committed to establishing culture as a standalone goal, enhancing cooperation, strengthening data frameworks, and recognizing culture as a global public good.