Saudi Culture Minister Discusses Aspects of Cooperation with South Korea’s SM Entertainment

Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan during his meeting with the founder of SM Entertainment, Lee Soo-man. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan during his meeting with the founder of SM Entertainment, Lee Soo-man. (SPA)
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Saudi Culture Minister Discusses Aspects of Cooperation with South Korea’s SM Entertainment

Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan during his meeting with the founder of SM Entertainment, Lee Soo-man. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan during his meeting with the founder of SM Entertainment, Lee Soo-man. (SPA)

Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan has held talks with the founder of SM Entertainment, Lee Soo-man, in Seoul.

Prince Badr concluded on Thursday a two-day visit to South Korea aimed at strengthening cooperation with Korean cultural authorities, and discussing ways to develop them.

Both sides reviewed aspects of joint cooperation in the cultural fields, including music education and training, organizing music events and festivals, and promoting joint production.

The ministry also signed a framework cooperation agreement with South Korea's CJENM Ltd. to enrich the cultural sector in the Kingdom.

The agreement included the formulation of a framework for joint cooperation in the film and music sectors and in cultural events.

It also explores opportunities for cooperation in various cultural projects, including cinematic and musical activities and cultural centers that present elements of Saudi and Korean heritage in music, art, food, theatrical arts, heritage, films and architecture.

The agreement is in line with efforts led by the Culture Ministry to develop the cultural sector in the Kingdom and enrich it with successful global experiences and expertise in various cultural fields, support and empower Saudi creators in their various specializations, and provide qualitative cultural options for the Saudi public, to achieve the goals of Vision 2030.



Emir of Qatar to Visit Damascus on Thursday

Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani. (KUNA)
Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani. (KUNA)
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Emir of Qatar to Visit Damascus on Thursday

Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani. (KUNA)
Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani. (KUNA)

Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani will visit Damascus on Thursday, Qatar's Al Jazeera reported, as Syria's new interim government begins a political transition after the opposition factions ousted the Assad regime last year.

Qatar's foreign ministry did not respond to a request for comment.

In January, a US official and a senior diplomat said Qatar planned to help finance a sharp increase in public sector wages pledged by Syria's new government.

Qatar had been lobbying Washington to issue a sanctions exemption for Syria allowing it to provide funding through official channels, the US official and diplomat said.