As part of his first official visit to the Kingdom of Thailand, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with His Eminence Sheikh Arun Boonchom, Sheikhul Islam and President of the Central Islamic Council of Thailand, on Wednesday, 8 October 2025, in Bangkok.

The meeting explored avenues for strengthening cooperation between ICESCO and the Central Islamic Council in promoting interfaith coexistence and advancing the values of moderation and tolerance as fundamental pillars for building balanced and inclusive societies.

Dr. AlMalik reviewed ICESCO’s key initiatives in this field, particularly those carried out through its Center for Civilizational Dialogue. He highlighted the innovative concept of Civilizational Diplomacy, which seeks to shape individuals and societies on strong civilizational foundations that foster peace and intercultural understanding. He also presented several specific initiatives, including the “Read it to Understand it” initiative, which aims to deepen understanding of the Holy Quran and promote the values of dialogue and mutual respect. Additionally, Dr. AlMalik proposed organizing a symposium on Thailand’s experience of peaceful coexistence, as well as another on the cultural ties between Thailand and the Islamic world.

For his part, Sheikh Arun Boonchom commended ICESCO’s efforts in promoting tolerance and coexistence, emphasizing the importance of cooperation in this area, particularly in Thailand, where Muslims make up approximately 10% of the population. He also expressed his eagerness to develop joint programs aimed at promoting the values of moderation, centrism, and dialogue.

The two parties agreed to strengthen mutual participation in conferences and seminars organized by ICESCO in this field, and to move forward with signing a cooperation agreement between the Organization and the Office of the Sheikhul Islam in Thailand, on the sidelines of the International Conference on Arabic Language, to be hosted by Krirk University tomorrow.