The ministries of culture of Qatar and Saudi Arabia inked Monday in Doha a memorandum of understanding (MoU) during the first meeting of chairpersons of the Qatar-Saudi Coordination Council's Committee of Culture, Tourism and Entertainment.
HE the Minister of Culture Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad al-Thani and Saudi Arabian Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan al-Saud signed the MoU.
Following the meeting, Assistant Undersecretary for Cultural Affairs Dr Ghanem bin Mubarak al-Ali said the MoU dealt with the activation of cultural co-operation between the two countries, exchange of expertise and co-ordination on joint cultural files to be registered on the Unesco Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists.
In a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA), al-Ali said the two ministries co-ordinated and co-operated on the registration of Arab heritage elements on the Unesco list, such as falconry, Arabic coffee and majlises. The Ministry of Culture is currently working to complete the registration of other elements, most notably the Bisht, he added.
The bilateral cultural co-operation also includes the participation in joint cultural events in the two countries, especially national events and book fairs, al-Ali added.
Saudi Arabia is the guest of honour of the 32nd Doha International Book Fair, which kicked off in Doha Monday under the slogan 'With reading we rise'.
