By JEDDAH: IBRAHIM NAFFEE

Minister of Higher Education Khaled Al-Anqari underscored the significance of promoting dialogue to achieve peaceful coexistence of peoples across the world.

Describing dialogue as the ‘language of the age,’ the minister said it is required at all levels of human life in the modern world. Al-Anqari made the remarks while opening the 3rd Edition of the Saudi French Seminar for the Dialogue of Cultures here yesterday.

The Ministry of Higher Education, represented by the cultural attaché in Paris, organized the two-day event, in collaboration with the King Abdulaziz University (KAU).

Several prominent figures, including academics, and educational experts from the Saudi and French universities are taking part in the seminar with the theme of “Arab Islamic Thought in Europe: Reality and Role.”

The high profile event was regarded as a major step in support of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah’s call to promote interfaith and intercultural dialogues as a means to establish world peace.

In his opening speech, Al-Anqari stressed the need to further strengthen means of mutual dialogue through curricula and cultural seminars. “There is no doubt that this edition of the seminar, with its working papers, would focus on spreading of knowledge pertaining to the Arab and Islamic culture at French and European universities, whether they are through curricula or through contributions of translators,” he said.

Addressing the opening session, Abdullah Al-Turki, secretary-general of the Muslim World League (MWL), highlighted the key role being played by the Islamic organizations and centers in non-Muslim countries in promoting dialogue.

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From left, Dr. Ibrahim Alzayd, Dr. Saleh Al-Mani, Dr. Annie Cot, Dr. Marcel Boisard and Dr. Salwa Al-Maiman at the 3rd edition of the Saudi French Seminar on Dialogue of Cultures in Jeddah