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Dr. Salim AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), affirmed that the Organization places the Arabic language and the enhancement of its international status at the forefront of its priorities. He noted that ICESCO is implementing high-quality programs and projects, including work on the “Unified Reference Framework for the Arabic language in teaching, learning, and assessment.,” in cooperation with international institutions. ICESCO is also preparing global reports on the status of Arabic as a second language and is working to launch artificial intelligence projects to develop Arabic language models (LLMs).

This was part of his keynote speech as Guest of Honor at the opening of the third international conference titled “the Arabic Language in the Modern Era: Literacy Opportunities and Challenges,” held on Thursday, October 9, 2025, in Bangkok, co-organized by ICESCO and Krirk University, the Wasatiyyah Institute under the Office of Chularatchamontri (Sheikhul Islam of Thailand), and the International Islamic University Malaysia. The conference witnessed high-level attendance from ministers, senior officials, ambassadors, and university presidents, led by H.E. Mrs. Sabida Thaiseth, Minister of Culture of the Kingdom of Thailand, who attended on behalf of the Prime Minister.

Dr. AlMalik highlighted the distinguished status of the Arabic language among world languages thanks to its uniqueness and rich vocabulary, describing it as the language of miracles, science, and thought. He emphasized its divine honor when the Holy Qur’an was revealed in clear Arabic.

He stated that Arabic has remained resilient against colonial attempts to weaken it, recognizing that language is not merely spoken words but a comprehensive system of thought, creativity, and identity, pointing out that current challenges, especially the weakness of Arabic digital content, which barely exceeds 1% of global content, require intensive efforts from all institutions concerned, calling for enriching Arabic content by keeping pace with the demands and developments of the modern era.

Dr. AlMalik presented a set of recommendations to enhance the international status of Arabic, including linguistic scientific research encouragement, especially in applied and computational linguistics, offering opportunities to study in Arab universities for non-Arab students to become ambassadors of the Arabic language, and allocating the necessary budgets to implement ambitious Arabic language projects.

Additionally, Dr. Hani Al Balawi, expert at ICESCO’s Center for Civilizational Dialogue, participated in a conference session titled “Arabic Language: A Bridge for Civilizational Diplomacy.” He delivered a presentation on the civilizational depth of Arabic and reviewed ICESCO’s efforts, in cooperation with the Kingdom of Thailand, to make Arabic a bridge for civilizational dialogue and a tool for promoting values of tolerance and peaceful coexistence.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) concluded a training workshop titled “Capacity Building: Mental Health Training for Adolescents and Youth,” organized in cooperation with the Yemeni National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, in Aden on 6 and 7 October 2025. The workshop benefited 35 young men and women and aimed to raise awareness about mental and psychological health while equipping youth with the skills needed to cope with crises.

In her opening remarks, Dr. Hafiza Al-Sheikh, Secretary-General of the Yemeni National Commission, emphasized the importance of the workshop in enhancing young people’s understanding of mental health and its connection to conflict, thereby strengthening their resilience within their communities. She noted that societies cannot mature without fostering inner strength and ensuring psychological and social well-being.

For his part, ICESCO representative Mr. Alioune Ndiaye, Head of Peace Division at the Social and Human Sciences Sector, highlighted that mental health and youth empowerment form a central focus of ICESCO’s strategic vision. He referred to the Organization’s practical initiatives, including the publication of two mental health guides and the organization of previous training sessions in Morocco and Libya.

The workshop concluded with a certificate presentation ceremony attended by Mr. Iqbal Yassin Bahader, Deputy Director of the Office of the Presidency of the Republic of Yemen, Dr. Al-Khader Nasser Laswar, President of the University of Aden, along with several professors and academics.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) signed two MoUs with the Wasatiyyah Institute for Peace and Development, affiliated with the Office of the Sheikhul Islam of Thailand, and with Krirk University in Bangkok, with the aim of strengthening cooperation in the fields of peaceful coexistence and civilizational dialogue, and advancing academic, scientific, and research collaboration. The signing took place on Thursday, 9 October 2025, on the sidelines of the third international conference titled “The Arabic Language in the Modern Era: Literacy, Opportunities, Challenges,” held in the Thai capital.

The first MoU was signed by Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, and Dr. Abdullah Numsuk, Director of the Wasatiyyah Institute for Peace and Development. Spanning three years, the MoU seeks to promote intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding, spread the values of peace and coexistence, and foster sustainable peace and social cohesion, through joint training programs, international conferences, and exchange of expertise, research, and scientific publications.

Following the signing ceremony, Dr. AlMalik emphasized that partnerships with religious and civil institutions in Asia are a key driver for embedding a culture of peace. He noted that the MoU supports the implementation of joint initiatives to build youth capacities, empower community leaders, and carry out practical programs to counter hate speech.

The second MoU was signed by Dr. AlMalik and Dr. Krasae Chanawongse, President of Krirk University. It aims to establish an institutional framework for academic and research cooperation, including the launch of joint research projects and the organization of specialized conferences and seminars in the fields of language, innovation, and civilizational studies.

In this context, Dr. AlMalik affirmed that the signing of the MoU aligns with ICESCO’s strategic approach to expand international cooperation networks and exchange expertise, thereby supporting societal stability and enhancing the role of education, science, and culture in fostering peace and development.

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.

His Excellency Professor Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser to the Interim Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, received Dr. Salim AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), on Monday, October 6, 2025, at the presidency headquarters in the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka.

During the meeting, Dr. AlMalik expressed his gratitude and appreciation for the warm welcome and generous hospitality, praising the efforts of the interim government in laying the foundations for a promising future for Bangladesh in the fields of education, culture, science, and the environment.

ICESCO Director-General commended the pioneering initiatives launched by Professor Muhammad Yunus throughout his international career, most notably the Grameen Bank for the poor and the “Three Zeros” initiatives (Zero Poverty, Zero Unemployment, Zero Net Carbon Emissions), in addition to the entrepreneurial incubator initiative supporting social and economic development.

Dr. AlMalik emphasized that cooperation between ICESCO and Bangladesh represents a distinguished model of partnership. He noted that during this visit, opportunities for collaboration were explored with several senior advisers and officials from the Ministries of Education; Culture; and Women and Children, and Social Affairs, with the aim of developing joint initiatives that support sustainable development in Bangladesh and other Member States.

He also announced that ICESCO’s 2026–2029 strategy will include the adoption of the “Three Zeros” initiatives as a cornerstone for achieving sustainable development, alongside integrating entrepreneurship as a key driver to support and empower youth to become active partners in shaping educational, cultural, and social policies and strategies.

For his part, Prof. Yunus highlighted the most successful initiatives in Bangladesh that could benefit ICESCO Member States reaffirming the commitment of the interim government to strengthen cooperation with the Organization in the fields of innovation and social development.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Dr. AlMalik presented the ICESCO Shield to Prof. Yunus in recognition of his international efforts and initiatives in sustainable development, poverty alleviation, and youth support.