Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman received Audrey Azoulay, director general of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), here on Thursday.

During the meeting, they reviewed UNESCO’s remarkable efforts and ways to enhance and develop cooperation between the Kingdom and the organization in the fields of education, science, and culture.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal Bin Farhan; Minister of Education Dr. Hamad Al-Sheikh and Assistant Special Secretary to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Tamim Al-Salem attended the reception.

Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, also received Azoulay. During the meeting, they reviewed Saudi initiatives and programs in the field of culture.

They discussed means of enhancing bilateral cooperation in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 and United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals 2030.

The audience was attended by Minister of Culture Prince Badr Bin Abdullah and Minister of Education Dr. Hamad Al-Sheikh.

The UNESCO chief also visited on Thursday the headquarters of the Ministry of Culture in Al-Bujairi District, Diriyah. Deputy Minister of Culture Hamid Fayez and other officials received the UNESCO chief.

They held wide ranging talks, especially on ways of further strengthening cooperation in the field of culture.

During the meeting, Dr. Abdullah Sharaf Al-Ghamdi, president of the Saudi Authority for Data and Artificial Intelligence, gave a presentation on the authority’s role and vision on the future of culture, arts and education in light of rapid developments. They also reviewed goals of the Global Artificial Intelligence Summit, to be hosted by the Kingdom in March this year.

The director general visited Al-Turaif District in Diriyah, one of the national heritage sites in the Kingdom, which is listed on the UNESCO list of world heritage sites.

She was accompanied by Deputy Minister of Culture Hamid Fayez and CEO of the Diriyah Gate Development Authority Jerry Inzerillo.

Azoulay was briefed on the historic district and toured its heritage buildings with their unique architectural features that display Najd architecture and reflect traditional lifestyles.