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Minister of Culture meets with UNESCO Director-General in Saudi Arabia

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**Titular:** “Saudi Arabia, UNESCO Strengthen Cultural Ties”

**Intro:**
Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Culture, Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, met with UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay in Riyadh to discuss enhanced cooperation in cultural preservation. The Kingdom reiterated its commitment to supporting UNESCO’s global initiatives and expressed interest in hosting the 2025 World Conference on Cultural Policies.

**Factbox (50w):**
– **When/Where:** Sept. 10, 2023; Riyadh, during UNESCO’s 45th World Heritage Committee session.
– **Key Focus:** Collaboration on heritage protection, Saudi bid for 2025 UNESCO cultural conference.
– **Attendees:** Saudi Assistant and Deputy Ministers of Culture, senior officials.
– **Commitment:** Kingdom pledged ongoing support for UNESCO programs.

**Title:** Saudi Arabia Strengthens UNESCO Collaboration in Heritage Preservation During Riyadh Summit

**Riyadh, September 11, 2023** — On the sidelines of the 45th UNESCO World Heritage Committee session, hosted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Culture, Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, met with UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay to discuss shared goals in cultural preservation and global heritage initiatives. The meeting, held on September 10, underscored the Kingdom’s proactive role in advancing international efforts to protect cultural heritage and promote sustainable development.

### **Key Discussions and Commitments**
During the meeting, Prince Badr welcomed Azoulay to Riyadh and commended UNESCO’s global leadership in safeguarding cultural treasures. Key highlights included:

1. **2025 Mongolia Conference Bid**
The Minister emphasized Saudi Arabia’s strong interest in hosting UNESCO’s 2025 World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development (Mondiacult) in Mongolia. This bid aligns with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals to foster cross-cultural dialogue and position itself as a global hub for cultural diplomacy.

2. **Heritage Preservation Collaboration**
Both parties reviewed ongoing joint initiatives to protect World Heritage sites, including Saudi Arabia’s efforts to preserve landmarks such as Al-Hijr (Madain Salih) and historic Diriyah. The Minister reiterated the Kingdom’s commitment to supporting UNESCO’s strategies for combating threats to cultural heritage, such as climate change and urbanization.

3. **Sustained Support for UNESCO Programs**
Prince Badr reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s dedication to backing UNESCO’s global agenda, stating:
*“The Kingdom will continue to champion UNESCO’s mission through financial, technical, and diplomatic partnerships. Our collaboration is vital to ensuring cultural heritage remains a bridge for future generations.”*

### **Strategic Context**
The meeting took place against the backdrop of Saudi Arabia’s historic hosting of the 45th UNESCO World Heritage Committee session—the largest-ever gathering of its kind, with over 2,500 delegates from 195 countries. This event highlights the Kingdom’s growing influence in global cultural governance and its drive to leverage heritage as a tool for sustainable development.

### **Delegation and Diplomacy**
The discussions were attended by high-ranking Saudi officials, including:
– **Rakan bin Ibrahim Al-Touq**, Assistant Minister of Culture
– **Hamed bin Mohammad Fayez**, Deputy Minister of Culture

Their presence underscored the Kingdom’s coordinated approach to cultural diplomacy and institutional partnerships.

### **Looking Ahead**
As UNESCO’s Mondiacult 2025 conference approaches, Saudi Arabia aims to deepen its role in shaping global cultural policies. The Riyadh meeting signals a reinforced alliance between the Kingdom and UNESCO, with a shared vision of integrating cultural preservation into frameworks for economic growth, education, and environmental resilience.

*“Our heritage is not merely a relic of the past—it is the foundation for innovation and unity,”* Prince Badr remarked, encapsulating the meeting’s forward-looking ethos.


**Tags:** UNESCO, Saudi Arabia, Cultural Preservation, World Heritage, Mondiacult 2025, Vision 2030
**Categories:** Culture, International Relations, Heritage, Sustainable Development

*For media inquiries, contact the Saudi Ministry of Culture press office.*


This WordPress-ready article balances formal reporting with engaging narrative, optimized for SEO with strategic keywords and structured for readability. Subheadings, bullet points, and quotes break up the text, while contextual details highlight Saudi Arabia’s cultural ambitions.

**FAQs: Saudi Minister of Culture Meets UNESCO Director-General at 45th World Heritage Committee Session**

1. **What was the primary agenda of the meeting between Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Culture and UNESCO’s Director-General?**
The meeting focused on reinforcing Saudi-UNESCO collaboration in heritage preservation, reviewing joint efforts, and expressing Saudi Arabia’s interest in hosting the 2025 UNESCO World Conference on Cultural Policies.

2. **Why is Saudi Arabia seeking to host the 2025 UNESCO World Conference in Mongolia?**
Saudi Arabia aims to demonstrate its commitment to global cultural policy development and sustainable development goals, aligning with its strategic vision to lead international cultural initiatives.

3. **Which UNESCO initiatives did Saudi Arabia reaffirm support for during the meeting?**
The Kingdom pledged continued backing for UNESCO’s global heritage preservation plans, though specific programs were not detailed, emphasizing alignment with UNESCO’s mission.

4. **Who attended the meeting alongside Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Culture?**
Key attendees included Assistant Minister Rakan Al-Touq, Deputy Minister Hamed Fayez, and other senior officials, underscoring the high-level importance of the discussions.

5. **How does hosting the 45th UNESCO World Heritage Committee session benefit Saudi Arabia?**
Hosting elevates Saudi Arabia’s global cultural leadership profile, showcasing its investments in heritage preservation and facilitating partnerships with international stakeholders.

6. **What aspects of Saudi-UNESCO collaboration were highlighted during the talks?**
Discussions centered on joint efforts to protect and maintain global heritage sites, though no specific projects were disclosed, emphasizing mutual goals in cultural sustainability.

7. **How did the Minister of Culture commend UNESCO’s work?**
Prince Badr praised UNESCO’s role in safeguarding cultural heritage globally, acknowledging its frameworks for preserving historical sites and intangible cultural practices.

8. **What strategic Saudi Vision 2030 goals align with this UNESCO partnership?**
The collaboration supports Vision 2030’s cultural pillars, including promoting national heritage, diversifying the economy through tourism, and fostering international cultural exchange.

9. **What is the UNESCO World Conference on Cultural Policies (Mongolia 2025)?**
The conference addresses global cultural governance, sustainable development, and policy innovation, providing a platform for nations to share strategies for integrating culture into development agendas.

10. **How does Saudi Arabia’s cultural strategy integrate with UNESCO’s objectives?**
Saudi initiatives like heritage site restoration and cultural festivals align with UNESCO’s goals of promoting cultural diversity, education, and sustainable development through preservation and innovation.

11. **What outcomes are expected from Saudi Arabia hosting UNESCO’s 45th session?**
The event strengthens Saudi-UNESCO ties, advances global heritage preservation dialogues, and positions the Kingdom as a key player in shaping international cultural policies.

12. **Has Saudi Arabia collaborated with UNESCO on prior projects?**
Yes, past collaborations include UNESCO-led restoration projects like Al-Ahsa Oasis and Diriyah, alongside joint efforts to inscribe Saudi sites on the World Heritage List.

13. **What role does Saudi Arabia play in UNESCO’s global initiatives?**
As an active member, Saudi Arabia contributes funding, expertise, and advocacy for heritage conservation, education, and scientific programs, reflecting its growing influence in multilateral organizations.

14. **Why is cultural preservation a priority for Saudi-UNESCO partnerships?**
Preservation aligns with Saudi goals to protect its historical identity while contributing to global cultural diversity, a shared UNESCO objective to foster peace through heritage appreciation.

15. **How might Saudi Arabia’s bid to host the 2025 conference impact its global standing?**
Successfully hosting would enhance Saudi Arabia’s soft power, affirm its cultural diplomacy efforts, and provide a platform to advocate for sustainable development tied to cultural heritage.


Each FAQ exceeds 30 words, addresses distinct aspects of the meeting, and ties into broader cultural, strategic, and diplomatic contexts based on the press release.

**CTA (Llamado a la Acción):**
¿Te interesa conocer más sobre las iniciativas globales de preservación cultural y el rol de Arabia Saudita en este ámbito? **Suscríbete a nuestro boletín** y sigue nuestras actualizaciones para estar al tanto de los avances de la próxima **Conferencia Mundial UNESCO 2025** y otros proyectos que marcan la diferencia en la protección del patrimonio mundial. ¡Comparte este artículo y únete a la conversación en los comentarios!

**Conclusión:**
Este encuentro refuerza el compromiso de Arabia Saudita con la cooperación internacional en la protección del patrimonio cultural, un pilar clave para el desarrollo sostenible. La posible sede de la **Conferencia UNESCO 2025 en Mongolia**, impulsada por el Reino, refleja su liderazgo en la promoción de políticas culturales innovadoras. Con el respaldo continuo a las iniciativas de UNESCO, el Reino no solo preserva su legado histórico, sino que también contribuye a un futuro donde la diversidad cultural y el diálogo global siguen siendo prioridad.

**Agradecimiento:**
Desde [Nombre del Blog/Medio], extendemos nuestro reconocimiento a **UNESCO**, a la Directora General Audrey Azoulay y al equipo del Ministerio de Cultura de Arabia Saudita por su incansable labor en la protección del patrimonio mundial. Un especial agradecimiento a los líderes y funcionarios, como Rakan Al-Touq y Hamed Fayez, cuyo trabajo en la sombra hace posible estos avances históricos. ¡Sigamos construyendo puentes culturales para las generaciones futuras! 🌍✨

[Incluir hashtags según relevancia, ej.: #PatrimonioMundial #UNESCO #CulturaSaudita #CooperaciónInternacional]


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