Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Farhan attended on Tuesday the 43rd session of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) General Conference. The event is being held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from October 30 to November 13.
Prince Bader underscored the Kingdom’s deep-rooted partnership with UNESCO and its commitment to advancing international cooperation in education, culture, and science, said Ministry of Culture statement.
He expressed appreciation for UNESCO’s leadership in fostering peace and mutual understanding worldwide.
“Today, as we commemorate eight decades of fruitful collaboration and shared success, we look forward to continuing this journey, deepening our cooperation, and advancing our collective efforts toward even greater achievements in the years ahead,” he said.
He highlighted the Kingdom’s efforts to advance UNESCO’s global efforts, including the Saudi Fund for the Preservation of Culture and Heritage, which has benefited 136 countries worldwide.
He underlined Saudi Arabia’s role as an active partner in shaping cultural and educational initiatives, noting that the Kingdom’s selection to host the next UNESCO Global Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development (MONDIACULT 2029) reflects its pivotal role in fostering international cultural cooperation.
Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Farhan also met with his Uzbek counterpart Ozodbek Nazarbekov. The ministers stressed their shared commitment to advancing collaboration in cultural exchange, heritage preservation, and the creative industries.
They welcomed the ongoing collaboration between the Diriyah Biennale Foundation and the Bukhara Biennale of Contemporary Art, which featured the Diriyah Biennale’s winning design from its AlMusalla Prize.
Prince Bader also met with Chairperson of the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation Gayane Umerova.
He commended the successful organization of the Bukhara Biennale of Contemporary Art, a remarkable cultural event that bridges a vast historical legacy with modern artistic expression, underscoring the vital role of art in advancing intercultural dialogue.
They reviewed ongoing cooperation and explored new avenues for deepening cultural relations between Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan. Prince Bader highlighted the growing partnership between the two nations in heritage preservation, artistic exchange, and cross-cultural collaboration.
He praised Uzbekistan’s active participation as Guest of Honor at the Riyadh International Book Fair 2025 and commended its valuable contributions to the Islamic Arts Biennale in 2023 and 2025 through the loan of significant Islamic art artifacts.
He also recalled the presentation of the Musalla design during the first edition of the Bukhara Biennale of Contemporary Art, describing it as a symbol of creative exchange and cultural understanding between the two nations.
