Paris, March 19, 2024, Saudi Arabia actively participated in the 219th session of the Executive Board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), convened in Paris. Representing the Kingdom at this significant gathering is the Permanent Delegation of Saudi Arabia to UNESCO, with sessions scheduled to continue until March 27.
Today's opening session witnessed the engagement of the Saudi National Commission for Education, Culture, and Science, alongside other pertinent national bodies. Leading the Saudi delegation is Fahd bin Mayouf Al-Ruwaili, the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to France and the Principality of Monaco, as well as the designated permanent representative of the Kingdom to UNESCO.
In his address, Ambassador Al-Ruwaili underscored Saudi Arabia's steadfast efforts, in collaboration with regional and global partners, to address the dire humanitarian situation and civilian suffering in the Gaza Strip. He reiterated the Kingdom's firm stance on the imperative to halt Israeli aggression and violations of international law, urging UNESCO to intensify its efforts toward this end.
Meanwhile, Al-Ruwaili commended the ongoing cooperation between Saudi Arabia and UNESCO across various educational, scientific, and cultural initiatives. He highlighted the recent Saudi exhibition at the UNESCO headquarters, titled "The Earthen Testaments," commemorating the Saudi Founding Day and showcasing the rich heritage of Diriyah, including the Al-Turaif district listed on UNESCO's World Heritage List.
Al-Ruwaili also emphasized the joint projects between Saudi Arabia and UNESCO, amounting to $10 million, aimed at preserving cultural heritage through the Fund-in-Trust Agreement. These initiatives, spanning across six Culture Conventions of UNESCO, seek to foster a vibrant cultural ecosystem.
Reflecting on Saudi Arabia's advocacy for cultural inclusion during its presidency of the Group of Twenty (G20) in 2020, Al-Ruwaili expressed gratitude for the continued commitment of subsequent G20 presidencies to sustain this momentum.
Furthermore, Al-Ruwaili highlighted Saudi Arabia's advancements in the education sector, noting the addition of three Saudi cities to the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities, bringing the total to five. Additionally, the Kingdom assumed leadership membership in the UNESCO Sustainable Development Goal 4 High-Level Steering Committee and appointed experts to the relevant subcommittee focusing on data and monitoring.
Finally, Al-Ruwaili celebrated Saudi Arabia's successful bid in November 2023 to host Expo 2030 in Riyadh, expressing appreciation to the nations that entrusted their confidence in the Kingdom. He affirmed Saudi Arabia's commitment to organizing an exceptional expo that fosters cooperation among global cultures, sciences, and partnerships.
