The Saudi Minister of Higher Education, Dr Khaled Al-Anqari, said that the participation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the 35th session of the International Cairo Book Exhibition reflects deep-rooted cultural relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
In an address at the opening ceremony of Saudi cultural activities here on Friday, Dr Al-Anqari highlighted the keenness of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Egypt to strengthen global peace and security.
For his part, the Egyptian Minister of Culture, Farouq Hosni, lauded progress made by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the field of culture during the era of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz, and said that Saudi-Egyptian cultural relations are “deep-rooted and strong”.
Dr Sameer Sarhan, Head of the Egyptian Commission of Writers, said that the Saudi pavilion shows the high standards attained by the Kingdom in the field of formative arts and cultural activities. He noted that the Saudi pavilion had attracted a large number of visitors.
The following organisations are participating in the Saudi pavilion: King Fahd National Library; the Institute of Public Administration; King Saud University, the Education Ministry; King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals; Umm Al-Qura University; King Abdul Aziz Public Library; the Information Ministry; Imam Mohammed bin Saud Islamic University; King Abdul Aziz Centre; the General Presidency for Youth Welfare; the Madinah-based Islamic University; King Faisal University; King Faisal Centre for Research and Islamic Studies, and a number of Saudi libraries.
In a statement following the opening of the Saudi pavilion, Dr Al-Anqari praised the role of Saudi intellectuals in defending Arab culture against challenges following the 11 September incidents. “Saudi intellectuals have staunchly defended Arab culture, along with other Arab intellectuals,” he said.
As part of Saudi cultural activities, a seminar will be organized on Saturday on “Arab culture and globalisation”. The seminar will be followed by a lecture on electronic culture and a poetry night. On Sunday, there will be a lecture on the role of Saudi universities in preserving heritage. This will be followed by another lecture on Saudi poetry. On Monday other cultural and literary lectures will take place.
Source: SPA
