UNESCO Director General Irina Gueorguieva Bokova has arrived here in Kathmandu on Sunday on the invitation of Nepal Government.

Bokova will observe post-earthquake recovery process and visit Lumbini—the birthplace of Lord Buddha during her three-day stay.

She will also visit world heritage sites, community learning center, among other project sites, led by UNESCO in Kathmandu.

A joint educational and cultural programme will be held by UNESCO and Government of Nepal, according to the UNESCO Nepal.

The Director General lunched UNESCO-HNA (Cihang) Foundation Project on Culture amid a programme organised at Yak and Yeti Hotel in Kathmandu today. Addressing the programme, Bokova said ‘Nepal is dear in the heart of UNESCO’.

''I had planned to visit Nepal last year but due to unfavorable situation it could not happen then and got postponed for this time," Bokova said, "Kathmandu is well known for its unique art-crafts and heritage sites."

Recalling last year’s devastating earthquake, Bokova said that reconstruction should correspond to the culture. "Unique identity and culture should be preserved; this is what UNESCO wants," said Bokova amid the representatives of government of Nepal and different agencies.

"Cultural heritage and diversity is the most beautiful thing a community has in this world," she said, “We want to preserve the distinct identity of communities.”

Speaking at the programme, Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister, Ananda Prasad Pokhrel, said last year’s devastating earthquake destroyed hundreds of heritage sites in Nepal and that the government is committed to rebuild all of them as soon as possible with the help of different donors and agencies.

UNESCO Director General Bokova will meet the President, the Prime Minister, Minister for Education, Foreign Affairs Minister and other government officials on Monday to discuss issues pertaining to cooperation between Nepal and UNESCO.