Jazan, Saudi Arabia — July 9, 2025

Bait Al Thaqafa in Jazan hosted the "Bridges of Communication 2025" forum today, organized by the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) in cooperation with the General Directorate of Education in Jazan. The event was attended by Ithra Secretary-General Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Fawzan, along with a number of local and international academics, intellectuals and experts.

This year's forum focused on the theme of "cultural, literary and artistic diversity" as an effective tool for strengthening civilizational dialogue between nations, and for showcasing the true image of the Kingdom as a country with deep cultural and historical roots and a pioneering openness to the world.

Sessions on Culture, Belonging and Global Engagement

The forum included several specialized sessions addressing key topics, including:

  • Cultural and literary diversity in strengthening dialogue between civilizations
  • Inspiring national stories of civilizational engagement
  • Creativity as a bridge for building understanding between cultures
  • Art as a universal language expressing belonging

Speakers highlighted the Kingdom's rich civilizational heritage and cultural diversity, and how it deploys soft-power tools such as art, literature and education to strengthen its international standing and deepen global awareness of its national culture.

The Role of Education and Art in Shaping the Kingdom's Civilizational Image

Participants at the forum stressed:

  • The importance of universities and educational institutions in producing and exporting cultural and artistic content
  • The need to equip the younger generation with tools of civilizational engagement to represent the Kingdom globally
  • The ability of visual, musical and literary arts to transcend language barriers and foster understanding between peoples

The forum also showcased a number of national youth success stories that have won international awards and presented a positive image of the Kingdom on the world stage, thanks to the local cultural and educational support they received.

King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture: A Global Vision With a National Approach

Through this forum, the center seeks to:

  • Widen circles of international cultural understanding
  • Promote values of pluralism, openness and tolerance
  • Convey national messages to the world in a contemporary language that resonates with people

This aligns with Saudi Vision 2030, which places high value on civilizational dialogue and global engagement as a pillar of Saudi soft power.