Category: News update

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Ms. Regina Rusz, Austria’s Deputy Minister for European and International Affairs, and Dr. Anna Jankovic, Austrian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco, along with the accompanying delegation.

During the meeting, held on Tuesday, April 8, 2025 at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat, the two sides explored prospects for joint cooperation in promoting a culture of peace and consolidating the values of coexistence and interfaith dialogue.

Dr. AlMalik reviewed the efforts made by the Organization, particularly through its Center for Civilizational Dialogue, to foster mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence. He also highlighted several programs and initiatives aimed at strengthening the values of respect for the privacy of the other, dialogue between nations, and appreciation of cultural diversity, namely the development of the concept of “civilizational diplomacy” concerned with the promotion of global dialogue between different peoples, civilizations and cultures.

Dr. AlMalik also outlined ICESCO’s vision and strategic orientations, all rooted in the principles of dialogue, cooperation, and the expansion of communication to include the Organization’s Member States and the international community as a whole. He emphasized the Organization’s openness to granting observer status to new countries and its ongoing efforts to integrate the values of peace into education, science, and culture across its Member States. He further stressed his strong belief in the pivotal role of youth, noting that ICESCO has recruited many young talents and collaborated with others to bring their ideas and visions to life.

For her part, Ms. Regina Rusz commended ICESCO’s diverse activities and initiatives, underscoring the importance of promoting cultural diversity and respect among faiths. She emphasized that peace is the key guarantor of social cohesion and harmony among civilizations.

The meeting also touched upon future cooperation to organize joint activities, events and forums to raise global awareness on issues of religious diversity and respect for the other, and build a better world where dialogue and respect for religious differences prevail.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Mr. Fuad Muradov, Chairperson of the State Committee on Work with Diaspora of the Republic of Azerbaijan, along with his accompanying delegation, at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat during their visit to Morocco. The meeting focused on exploring potential areas of cooperation in fields of mutual interest.

During the meeting, which took place on Wednesday, 12 March 2025, in the presence of Mr. Nazim Samadov, Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Morocco, Dr. AlMalik reiterated the strong ties between ICESCO and Azerbaijan, as demonstrated by a series of joint programs and successfully implemented projects.

Moreover, Dr. AlMalik expressed his appreciation for the generous and ongoing support extended by His Excellency Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and the Azerbaijani authorities toward ICESCO’s initiatives, programs, and projects.

For his part, Mr. Fuad Muradov commended ICESCO for its pivotal and ongoing efforts in supporting its Member States across its areas of expertise. He outlined the objectives of the State Committee on Work with Diaspora of the Republic of Azerbaijan, emphasizing its commitment to strengthening the Azerbaijani community’s sense of belonging and national identity through various programs and activities. He also underscored the vital role of the Azerbaijani diaspora in promoting and disseminating Azerbaijani culture in their countries of residence.

The meeting discussed ICESCO’s engagement of its Member States in these committees to benefit the youth of the Islamic world through activities that raise awareness of the importance of preserving their national cultures.

Following the meeting, Mr. Muradov and his accompanying delegation visited the International Exhibition and Museum of the Prophet’s Biography and Islamic Civilization, currently housed at ICESCO headquarters.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), underlined that social justice is the cornerstone of societal stability and development, stressing the need for the concerted efforts of governments, parliaments, and economic and social institutions to achieve it.

Dr. AlMalik made this statement on Monday, February 17, 2025, at the opening session of the Ninth International Parliamentary Forum on Social Justice, organized by the Moroccan Parliament under the theme, “The Generalization of Social Protection in Morocco: A Vision of Development in Line with International Standards.”

Dr. AlMalik explained that the concept of justice transcends the mere distribution of wealth to encompass providing equal opportunities, guaranteeing the basic rights of citizens, and striking a balance between economic development and social protection. In this connection, the Director-General highlighted ICESCO’s role in supporting Member States’ efforts to consolidate social justice through policies that foster wage equality, expand health coverage, and promote innovation in development.

The Director-General also discussed the concept of social justice throughout history, recalling the values of Islamic teachings in balancing the various segments of society. He also commended the pioneering initiatives launched by His Majesty King Mohammed VI in the field of social protection, which have made Morocco a role model in this field.

Under the patronage of His Excellency Tunisian President Kaïs Saïed, the Republic of Tunisia will host the 45th Executive Council of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) on February 25-26, 2025, with the participation of delegations from the Organization’s Member States.

The announcement was made following a meeting between President Kaïs Saïed and Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, along with his accompanying delegation, on Tuesday, 27 January 2025, at the Carthage Palace in Tunis. The meeting was part of the delegation’s official visit to the Republic of Tunisia.

During the meeting, Dr. AlMalik expressed his gratitude to President Kaïs Saïed and conveyed his profound delight at this significant step. He emphasized that it reflects the President’s and Tunisia’s confidence in the Organization’s role over the past five years, as well as its pioneering efforts in education, science, and culture.

Dr. AlMalik added that Tunisia’s hosting of the ICESCO Executive Council provides a strong boost to enhancing cooperation between the Organization and Tunisia. He expressed confidence in the capabilities of the Tunisian authorities to ensure the Council’s success.

It is worth noting that ICESCO’s Executive Council meetings are held annually, with delegations from all 53 Member States in attendance. These delegations are typically led by the secretaries-general of the national commissions. The Executive Council is tasked with reviewing and evaluating ICESCO’s annual performance reports and approving future work plans proposed by the General Directorate.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), discussed with Mr. Noureddine Nouri, the Tunisian Minister of Education, ways to promote cooperation in education and invest in artificial intelligence (AI) to improve the quality of the sector, as part of the visit of the ICESCO delegation led by its Director-General to the Republic of Tunisia.

During the meeting, which took place on Tuesday, 28 January 2025, at the headquarters of the Ministry, Dr. AlMalik reviewed the main thrusts and strategic orientations of ICESCO’s vision, stressing the importance of integrating AI into the various stages of the educational process, developing curricula, and proposing innovative solutions to improve the performance of teachers and students. He also provided a comprehensive overview of the programs, projects, and activities of the Education Sector and the main roles played by ICESCO in the development of this field in its Member States.

Dr. AlMalik highlighted the Organization’s initiatives to improve the quality of education, develop education policies, support education systems, promote digital education and scientific research, and train education leaders. He stressed that the Organization is adopting the latest technologies to improve the sector and that it is up to us to build more inclusive and sustainable education systems that aim to train leaders capable of managing change and improving education.

For his part, the Tunisian Minister praised ICESCO’s pioneering efforts, projects, and programs that support Member States in several areas, including education, and the establishment of sustainable education systems that meet the needs of the present and pave the way for a better future. He also emphasized the Ministry’s keenness to work closely with ICESCO to implement joint programs and initiatives focused on capacity building for students and teachers, particularly in the area of AI, and called for an expanded conference in partnership with ICESCO to explore the impact of AI on the future of education.

At the end of the meeting, both parties reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening their cooperation in the development of education-related strategies and policies, and the implementation of joint programs and projects in this field.