Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received today, July 16 Mr. Jun Mao, Chargé d’affaires, at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Kingdom of Morocco, and Dr. Chen Dongyun, Cultural Advisor at the Embassy, at the headquarters of the Organization in Rabat. The officials explored ways to promote cooperation between ICESCO and China in the Organization’s areas of competence.

During this meeting, Dr. AlMalik reaffirmed that ICESCO’s new vision adopts openness and cooperation to serve the Member States and Muslim communities around the globe. He also highlighted that, within this framework, ICESCO developed a new charter specific to Observer States which will allow such countries to take part in conferences, activities and programmes and establish partnership with ICESCO, while calling on China to join the Organization as Observer.

Besides, ICESCO’s Director-General reviewed the major initiatives newly launched by the Organization during the COVID-19 pandemic to support the international community’s efforts to counter the pandemic’s negative repercussions.

The initiatives include the “Comprehensive Humanitarian Coalition,” whose executive projects and field programmes are geared towards countries affected by the pandemic and the neediest categories. He also called on the People’s Republic of China to join this Coalition and encourage private institutions to join as well.

The meeting also touched on the ICESCO Prize for Fighting against Coronavirus with a USD 200,000 reward to anyone who discovers an efficient treatment or preventive vaccine from the virus. Dr. AlMalik requested the Chinese delegation to help publicize this prize in China.

On his part, Mr. Jun Mao welcomed the development of cooperation between ICESCO and his country’s interest while calling for effective communication to achieve the results of this important meeting and follow-up on the issues agreed upon.

The two parties agreed to implement joint programmes in the fields of culture, science, and education to develop their mutual relationship.

Dr. Ahmed Said Bah, Director of the Sector of Partnerships and International Cooperation; Amb. Khalid Fathalrahman, Director of Dialogue and Cultural Diversity Department; and Ms. Rime Jirari, President of Organizations and Bodies Division from ICESCO attended the meeting. Joining the meeting from the Chinese Embassy was Ms. Dong Xue Meng, Officer at the Cultural Division.