UNESCO General Director Irina Bokova on May 26 officially endorsed recommendations by the International Advisory Committee of the Memory of the World Committee to inscribe 45 new documents and documentary collections from all over the world on the Memory of the World Register, which now numbers a total of 238 items.

The programme, launched in 1992, aims to prevent the risk that humankind’s invaluable documents falling into obscurity and encourage countries worldwide to further preserve and promote those tangible heritages.

The stone steles at Van Mieu, which are inscribed with the names of 2,313 doctorate holders who passed the court examinations between 1442-1779, were also recognised last year as World Documentary Heritage by UNESCO Memory of the World Committee for Asia and Pacific.