The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and Bibliotheca Alexandrina in the Arab Republic of Egypt signed a cooperation agreement aimed at promoting civilizational dialogue among cultures and religions, publicizing the heritage of the Islamic world and contributing to its revival and dissemination. The agreement also seeks to support Arab and Islamic culture, foster new contributions and works, and accord due attention to building the creative capacities of young talents in areas of common interest.

The agreement was signed on Friday 20 December 2024, at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat by Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, ICESCO Deputy Director General, and Dr. Ahmed Abdullah Zayed, Director of Bibliotheca Alexandrina, at the close of the international symposium “Al-Aqqad and the Islamic World”, held by the Organization and the Library, to highlight the intellectual contributions of the great Egyptian writer and thinker Abbas Mahmoud Al-Aqqad, and shed light on his remarkable works characterized by innovation, originality and depth, which have enriched human culture and the world’s body of literature.

The five-year agreement provides for holding international conferences and the publishing books and research papers to support civilizational dialogue among different cultures and religions, raise awareness of Arab and Islamic civilizations, develop libraries in the Islamic world and train their staff. It also provides for co-implementing publishing and translation programs for works of common interest, particularly works on the history of Arabic calligraphy, disseminating ICESCO publications on the library’s electronic platforms, and exchanging invitations to take part in each other’s activities.