PARIS — The Saudi Ministry of Culture and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) signed a memorandum of understanding to promote cooperation in culture and restoration of heritage. The signing ceremony was held in the presence of Minister of Culture Prince Badr Bin Abdullah Bin Farhan and Director General of UNESCO Audrey Azoulay in Paris on Thursday.

The cooperation between the two sides will also include preservation and restoration of heritage sites, as well as arts, festivals and literature, including libraries, book fairs, performing arts, initiatives and conferences related to culture and arts for children. This cooperation will provide educational and training opportunities for Saudi citizens in the field of culture. This is part of the Ministry of Culture’s initiatives to develop the emerging and creative Saudi talent.

Speaking on the occasion, Prince Badr said: “Today, we are delighted to cooperate with UNESCO, the world’s pioneering organization, in an important partnership for the development of the Kingdom’s cultural sector. We also look forward to work with UNESCO on joint projects that would benefit the cultural sector in the Kingdom, in addition to projects and initiatives that would have a positive impact on the cultural heritage regionally and internationally.”

The MoU comes within the framework of the ministry’s efforts to promote the Saudi culture as one of the most important pillars of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 to improve the quality of life and to empower national talent in many fields including visual and creative arts, fashion, literature and heritage. — SG/SPA