The Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, explored ways to promote cooperation between the Organization and the Sultanate of Brunei Darussalam, Republic of Indonesia, and Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, during three meetings he held with officials from these three countries, on Wednesday, in Paris, on the sidelines of the 40^th UNESCO General Conference.

During his meeting with Mr. Dato Hamzah Sulaiman, Minister of Education of Sultanate of  Brunei Darussalam, Dr. AlMalik reaffirmed ISESCO’s keenness to develop cooperation with the Sultanate, lauding the Celebration of Bandar Seri Begawan as Capital of Islamic  Culture for 2019 as well as the programmes and activities implemented and scheduled as part of the celebration.

The two parties also agreed to continue working towards promoting cooperation in the fields of education, science, technology and culture, and rendering Brunei Darussalam a regular destination for holding international symposia and hosting some ministerial conferences that fall within the realm of ISESCO’s competence, particularly in light of the positive outcomes scored during Dr. AlMalik’s visit to Brunei Darrussalam last October, his meeting with His Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, and his participation in the Majlis Ilmu Conference, which was opened by His Majesty.

Likewise, Dr. AlMalik met with Dr. Arief Rachman, Executive Chairman of the Indonesian National Commission to UNESCO, and together they reviewed the outcomes of the major activities ISESCO implemented in several Indonesian cities over the previous period. The two parties also explored ways to promote cooperation in ISESCO’s areas of competence, within the framework of ISESCO’s strategy and new vision, which strives to render the Organization a beacon for Islamic world as well as for other countries in the fields of science, culture and communication.

The Director General also met with Mr. Abdel-Ellah Sediqi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Afghanistan to France, Cyprus, Portugal and Monaco, Permanent Delegate of Afghanistan to UNESCO and ISESCO. During this meeting, the Director General explored the future of cooperation between the Organization and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, which both parties agreed to promote.

It is worth noting that the 40^th UNESCO General Conference kicked off yesterday and saw the participation of UNESCO Member States (193 Member States), in addition to ten Associate Members; and the attendance of world leaders, chief among them the UN Secretary General, Mr. António Guterres.