The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its commitment to advancing culture as a driver of sustainable development and international collaboration during the Sixth Meeting of G20 Ministers of Culture, held under the Presidency of the Republic of South Africa.
The official statement of Minister of Culture Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Farhan was delivered on his behalf by Assistant Minister of Culture Rakan AlTouq, SPA reported.
In the statement, the assistant minister underscored the Kingdom’s pioneering role in convening the first-ever G20 Ministers of Culture Meeting in 2020 under the Saudi Presidency, held under the theme “The Rise of the Cultural Economy: A New Paradigm.”
That milestone established culture as a universal public good and created an enduring platform for integrating culture into the global policy agenda — an initiative that continues to inspire successive G20 presidencies.
AlTouq commended the Republic of South Africa for its leadership in hosting this year’s meeting under the theme “Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability.”
He expressed the Kingdom’s strong support for these priorities, emphasizing culture’s role in fostering inclusion, equality, and collective progress. He also emphasized the need for stronger international cooperation to position culture at the heart of sustainable development.
Reflecting the ambitions of Saudi Vision 2030, the statement spotlighted several initiatives that demonstrate the Kingdom’s continued engagement in global cultural efforts. Among them, the Virtual Museum of Stolen Cultural Objects, developed in partnership with UNESCO, stands as the first-of-its-kind global platform harnessing artificial intelligence to protect heritage and combat illicit trafficking.
Building on these efforts, the Kingdom is currently hosting a Conference on Combating Illicit Trafficking in Cultural Property, a milestone initiative that brought together international experts and institutions to address one of the most pressing challenges facing the culture sector today.
In addition, the Kingdom’s upcoming hosting of the UNESCO World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development (MONDIACULT 2029) highlights Saudi Arabia’s ongoing efforts to work with international partners to develop cultural frameworks that empower communities and strengthen global cultural resilience.
In closing, the Kingdom extended appreciation to the Republic of South Africa for its hospitality and efforts in organizing the meeting, reiterating its readiness to collaborate with G20 partners to promote culture as a force for connection, sustainability, and shared human creativity.
