In an address at the opening of the 23rd session of the Conference of Ministers in charge of Cultural Affairs in the Arab World, Bensaid stressed that the Kingdom is committed, under the leadership of the Sovereign, to engage in the heart of joint Arab action.
This commitment goes whether through the implementation of the comprehensive plan for Arab culture, which Morocco hosted a high-level meeting on November 21 and 22 in Rabat, or through the Kingdom’s continued efforts to strengthen the role of culture in global development.
Morocco gives culture a prominent place in its 2011 Constitution and considers the sector as a main axis in the new development model of the Kingdom, as it has integrated it among the major components of the current government program, he explained.
He noted, in this regard, that this program includes the coverage of the national territory with the structures of cultural proximity, the establishment of creative cultural industries, the protection and enhancement of the national cultural heritage, the implementation of royal sites for social protection for artists, as well as the improvement and diversification of the digital cultural offer.
Bensaid also recalled with pride the pioneering role and commendable efforts of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, to preserve the historical identity of Al-Quds Asharif, through the Bayt Mal Al-Quds Agency, which provides funding for cultural and heritage projects and programs that support and strengthen the Arab and Islamic presence in the Holy City, within the framework of a close partnership and cooperation with Arab, Islamic and international institutions
In addition, the Minister expressed his pride that the city of Fez hosted, on November 21 and 22, the 9th edition of the World Forum of the Alliance of Civilizations, whose objective is to consolidate the values of coexistence, tolerance and harmony between peoples.
Similarly, the Minister said that the choice of “Culture and the Green Future” as the theme of the conference, reflects the desire to strengthen efforts to integrate culture in the process of global and sustainable development, stressing the involvement of the Kingdom of Morocco through the support of Saudi Arabia in this momentum.
He also praised the efforts made by the Minister of Culture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in conducting consultations at the level of the Arab region, which contributed to the great success of the World Conference on Cultural Policies of UNESCO held last September in Mexico City.
In the same vein, Bensaïd congratulated the Arab countries whose cultural property was inscribed on the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage at the 17th annual meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, which was held from November 28 to December 3.
