Unesco has reached an agreement with science museums in China to promote the exchange and sharing of science resources between them and other institutions across the world.

Signed at the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum on 24 June, the agreement will promote cooperation between the Chinese Association of Natural Science Museums and the museums of Unesco member states.

The agreement, says Unesco, will benefit both domestic and foreign science-related museums, with the aim to turn affiliated science centres into platforms serving the UN's Sustainable Development Goals through activities and cooperation projects.

A 17 point plan, the UN's Sustainable Development Goals programme includes creating quality education for all. As a result of the agreement, there will be an exchange of exhibitions and education resources and greater shared support for improving informal education in STEM subjects.

Speaking to Shanghai Daily Yoslan Nur, programme specialist for Unesco, said that the agreement would benefit China and the other Belt and Road Initiative countries – a development strategy focusing on connectivity and cooperation between Eurasian countries.

In May, China's government allocated CN¥545m (US$85.8m, €72.2m, £63.2m) in an effort to make some of the country's top science museums free-to-visit.

China has more than 3,500 museums – including over 3,000 state-owned museums. Among its most popular in the science category are the China Science and Technology Museum in Beijing, which welcomes around 4 million visitors each year, and the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum, which draws upwards of 3.5 million people annually. Outside of Beijing and Shanghai, Chongqin's Science and Technology Museum receives more than 2.8 million people through its doors each year.