An international delegation led by Malta’s ambassador and permanent delegate to Unesco, Ray Bondin, recently participated in the section on ‘Cultural Cities’ in the Universal Forum of Cultures in Valparaiso, Chile. Dr Bondin was the main foreign speaker and presented a speech entitled ‘Heritage is an Economic Asset’.

As head of the delegation, Dr Bondin joined Chilean Vice-President Rodrigo Hinzpeter for the inauguration of the showing of the ‘Fenix 2’ capsule, which was recently used to rescue 33 miners trapped deep underground in northern Chile, and which was put on show in the city to celebrate the mission’s success.