Gihan Zaki Calls for Strengthening Cultural Diplomacy Among Islamic World Nations

Dr. Gihan Zaki, Minister of Culture, delivered Egypt’s address at the 14th Meeting of Ministers of Culture of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), hosted in Kazan, the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan, Russian Federation, from May 13 to 15. Zaki headed the Egyptian delegation participating in the meeting, alongside several cultural events and bilateral meetings aimed at bolstering cultural cooperation between Egypt and Tatarstan in the fields of arts, heritage, and creative industries. In her speech, Dr. Gihan Zaki highlighted Kazan as a living witness to the dialogue of cultures, noting that this meeting builds upon the progress made at last year’s Jeddah meeting, where the "Jeddah Declaration" affirmed that culture is no longer a marginal sector but a fundamental pillar for intellectual security and sustainable development.

The Minister explained that under the leadership of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, and within the framework of the "New Republic" vision, Egypt has redefined the role of culture as a driving force for development, a tool for stability, and a bridge for communication between peoples. She stated that investment in culture in Egypt has expanded beyond heritage preservation to include human development, shaping awareness, and fostering a sense of belonging. This is manifested through parallel tracks, including establishing cultural justice by expanding services across the country, adopting initiatives for character building, and protecting heritage as a core component of identity. Furthermore, she pointed to supporting the creative economy as a growth engine and accelerating digital transformation, noting that Egypt is launching "Digital Culture Palaces" using modern technological tools.

Dr. Zaki emphasized that Egypt views its cultural experience as a model for integration and cooperation with OIC member states to enhance collective capacity in facing common challenges. She stressed that the conference’s theme, "Dialogue of Civilizations," arrives at a critical global juncture requiring a new cultural discourse based on mutual understanding. She added that Egypt believes this dialogue must transition from intentions into actionable public policies and joint programs, such as supporting joint cultural productions, expanding exchange programs, and integrating values of plurality into education, while empowering youth as the true engine of civilizational dialogue. Dr. Gihan Zaki concluded by asserting that civilizations naturally integrate when there is shared will, calling for the activation of implementation mechanisms to ensure sustainable cooperation. She reaffirmed Egypt’s readiness to strengthen cultural partnerships and contribute to initiatives supporting the dialogue of civilizations within and beyond the OIC framework.