The government has signed an agreement to collaborate with the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to conserve world cultural heritage sites in the Asia Pacific region.

The Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea said that its chief Choe Kwang-shik signed the agreement with UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova on Wednesday at the organizations headquarters in Paris.

Choe is in Paris to attend the UNESCO's 35th World Heritage Committee (WHC) meeting that opened Monday.

This agreement is an extension of South Korea’s project to operate a trust fund to finance the preservation of murals in ancient Goguryeo Dynasty tombs located in what is now North Korea. The project began in 2000 and concluded this year. The new project will cover the Asia Pacific region.

South Korea will provide support to less-developed nations in the Asia Pacific to prepare sites to make the cultural heritage list and assist in serving and maintaining those already on it. Its annual budget for financing the projects will also get a boost.