Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and Dr. Faisal Bin Abdulrahman Bin Muammar, Secretary-General of the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Center for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID), explored ways to strengthen and develop partnership between the Organization and the Center, in the field of civilizational dialogue and the consolidation of the values ​​of coexistence and peace.

During the meeting, which took place today, Monday, 13 September 2021, on the sidelines of the G20 Interfaith Forum 2021 in the Italian city of Bologna, Dr. AlMalik and Dr. Bin Muammar discussed several suggested initiatives and programs likely to be implemented in cooperation between ICESCO and the Center, and the signing of an executive action plan for partnership between the two parties.

The two parties agreed to develop cooperation and partnership in the areas of training and capacity building for the benefit of youth and women and to include the values ​​of peace, tolerance, justice, and moderation in educational curricula, in order to present the correct image of the Islamic civilization and culture, which call for dialogue and acceptance of difference as a building block that enriches human civilization.

The King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Center for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID) is an international organization established in 2012 by Saudi Arabia, Austria, and Spain, and the Vatican as an observer founding member. The Center is based in the Austrian capital, Vienna, and seeks to advance dialogue and understanding between followers of different faiths religions and cultures, and to promote the culture of respect for diversity, and to establish the rules of justice and peace among nations and peoples.