US first woman Jill Biden attended a flag-raising ceremony at Unesco in Paris on Tuesday, marking Washington’s official re-entry into the UN company after a controversial five-year hiatus.

The Stars and Stripes was hoisted up exterior Unesco’s headquarters with the Eiffel Tower on the skyline to rousing applause and a rendition of the nationwide anthem.

Before the flag-raising, Mrs Biden made remarks concerning the significance of American management in preserving cultural heritage and empowering training and science throughout the globe.

“I was honoured to join you today as we raise the flag of the Unites States, the symbol of our commitment to global collaboration and peace,” Mrs Biden mentioned.

“We are so proud to rejoin Unesco,” she proclaimed, acknowledging that “as a teacher I’m a little biased.”

The US had introduced its intention to rejoin Unesco in June, and the organisation’s 193 member states earlier this month voted to approve the US reentry.

Tuesday’s ceremony, which additionally featured a speech by Unesco director-general Audrey Azoulay, formally signified the US changing into the 194th member — and flag proprietor — on the company.

“We are putting the Star Spangled Banner back where it belongs,” Ms Azoulay mentioned.

“In the time of divisions, rifts and and existential threats, we reaffirm our union here today,” Ms Azoulay additionally mentioned, referring to present international political instabilities. “Together we will be stronger.”

“The return of the United States has a meaning that is bigger than Unesco,” she added.

Ms Azoulay emphasised the importance of the transfer for multilateralism and “universality” as a complete — in a speech that talked about the conflict in Ukraine.

She mentioned the momentum of Unesco will develop with the reintegration of the US, thereby strengthening the organisation’s initiatives all through the world.

The UN company’s particular envoy, US actor Forest Whitaker, additionally gave a speech praising the spirit of peace by means of training that “could not have been possible without Unesco”.

The US choice to return to Paris-based Unesco was primarily based primarily on considerations that China has crammed a management hole since Washington withdrew in the course of the Trump administration.

The US exit from Unesco in 2017 cited an alleged anti-Israel bias throughout the organisation. The choice adopted a 2011 transfer by Unesco to incorporate Palestine as a member state, which led the US and Israel to stop financing the company. The US withdrawal turned official a yr later in 2018.

This represents a good portion of Unesco’s annual working finances of 534 million {dollars} (£415 million), highlighting the substantial monetary position the U.S. performed within the company earlier than its departure.

Before its withdrawal, the US was the only greatest funder of Unesco, contributing 22% of the company’s general funding.

This is the second time the US has returned to Unesco after a interval of withdrawal. The nation beforehand left the organisation in 1984 underneath the Reagan administration, citing mismanagement, corruption and perceived development of Soviet pursuits. It rejoined in 2003 underneath George W Bush’s presidency.