Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), explored with Mr. SHINOZUKA Takashi, Ambassador of Japan to Morocco, the prospects of successful cooperation and partnership between ICESCO and Japan in the fields of education, science, and culture.

During the meeting, Dr. AlMalik reaffirmed that ICESCO’s vision and strategy to adopt open-door policy and seek to build partnerships that would serve its Member States and Muslim communities around the globe.

He added that ICESCO set a new Charter of the Observer States to allow such countries to effectively participate in the various activities and contribute to building partnerships with the Organization. Dr. AlMalik also called on Japan to join the Organization as an Observer State.

The DG also reviewed the ICESCO’s major initiatives, programmes, and activities that support the efforts of the Member States and the international community to counter the negative repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The initiatives include the “Comprehensive Humanitarian Coalition,” which targets countries affected by the pandemic and most vulnerable groups.

Dr. AlMalik noted that Japan and the Japanese private institutions are welcome to join this coalition.

The Japanese Ambassador to Rabat commended ICESCO’s initiatives and sustained efforts to support the Member States in the fields of education, science, and culture. He highlighted that Japan launched many initiatives to counter the adverse effects of the pandemic and assist many countries most affected by it.

The two parties agreed to Japan’s support of ICESCO’s educational, scientific, and cultural projects, particularly in Africa, through Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

ICESCO’s Dr. Ahmed Said Bah, Director of the Sector of Partnerships and International Cooperation; Ambassador Khaled Fathalrahman, Director of Dialogue and Cultural Diversity; and Ms. Rime Jirari, Head of Organizations and Bodies Department also attended the meeting.
The meeting took place at ICESCO headquarters.