US Foreign Minister Anthony Blinken called on Wednesday for the United States to return to UNESCO to counter China’s influence, AFP reported.

“I really think we should go back to UNESCO,” the Secretary of State told a parliamentary committee.

“Not to give them a gift, but because what’s happening there really matters,” he said, referring in particular to the debate at the Paris-based organization on artificial intelligence and education.

In late 2018, the United States withdrew from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization under former President Donald Trump in retaliation for what it saw as anti-Israel bias. They had already suspended payments in 2011 when the Palestinians became members.

“China is now the biggest contributor to UNESCO,” Blinken said, “and we’re not even at the negotiating table. It is important to return.

The US State Department has requested $150 million to fund a possible repeal of the Biden administration’s 2024 budget proposal, which was recently submitted to Congress for approval.