In a significant development, Rakan bin Ibrahim Al-Touq, the Assistant Minister of Culture for Saudi Arabia, recently convened two crucial meetings in the historic city of Varanasi, India. The esteemed attendees included Ernesto Ottone Ramirez, the Assistant Director-General for Culture at UNESCO, and Sergey Obryvalin, the Deputy Minister of Culture for Russia. During the official visit of the Saudi Assistant Minister to India, two separate meetings took place. These meetings were held in conjunction with the G20 Cultural Ministers' Meeting, which was hosted by India as part of its G20 Presidency in 2023.
In a recent meeting with a UNESCO official, Al-Touq emphasized the Kingdom's strong desire and determination to host the upcoming UNESCO World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development (MUNDIAKLAT 2025). In a resolute statement, the spokesperson emphasized the unwavering commitment of the Kingdom to endorse and sustain initiatives and prospective undertakings put forth by UNESCO. These endeavors are aimed at bolstering the preservation, safeguarding, and enhancement of the world's cultural heritage.
During the meeting, discussions were held on strategies to enhance cooperation between the Kingdom and UNESCO in different cultural domains, with a particular emphasis on safeguarding the world's heritage in its entirety. During their meeting, the Saudi Assistant Minister and the UNESCO official discussed various collaborative projects, with a particular focus on the initiatives undertaken by the Saudi Heritage Preservation Society (SHPS) in partnership with UNESCO.
In a recent gathering, Al-Touq, a prominent figure, conveyed his appreciation to the Russian Deputy Minister of Culture for the invaluable support extended by Moscow towards the Kingdom's bid for re-nomination to the UNESCO Executive Board for the upcoming term spanning from 2023 to 2027.
Both officials engaged in a fruitful discussion regarding the possibility of forging collaborations between the Kingdom and the Russian Federation across various cultural domains.
In a bid to enhance cultural ties, a recent meeting delved into the topic of bolstering cultural cooperation between the two nations. Both countries, known for their amicable relations, expressed their intention to solidify this commitment through the signing of a joint memorandum of understanding (MoU). The meeting specifically focused on the implementation of collaborative programs and projects aimed at fostering cultural exchange and collaboration.
