Prince Abdul Majeed, the governor of Makkah, has recently invited a group of Japanese students to visit the Kingdom. The idea behind the invitation is for them to meet their Saudi contemporaries and learn firsthand about people’s lives here. The Japanese students also can see the level of progress our country has achieved in a relatively short period of time. The prince extended the invitation in a teleconference organized by the Saudi Science Club.
The idea of the dialogue using the latest in communication technology came at a most appropriate time. Understanding between civilizations is one of the greatest needs of the hour. I hope that the Saudi club will implement the invitation of Abdul Majeed without delay. It is commendable that the Saudi Science Club annually selects outstanding young people to visit various countries.
There is, in fact, a pressing need for increased visits by youths and students to serve the goals of a dialogue between civilizations. Undoubtedly, the exchange of visits would be an effective method of familiarizing young people of different nations and cultures and bringing them closer. Such visits correct misunderstandings existing between different peoples.
The youths coming from other countries will carry a realistic picture of our country back to their own countries. They will be qualified to speak with authority about us to the outside world. For this reason, we must to pay more attention to such trips.
We should open our doors to frequent visits by young people from all over the world. The visits would provide young people with ample opportunities to interact directly with our young people in addition to learning about our society through personal experiences. This would help remove misunderstanding and misinformation about our society and country which arises because of ignorance, lack of information or hostile media campaigns.
Our country has recently been the target of fierce hate campaigns. We should make every effort to counter these challenges in a civilized and comprehensive way. Cultural activities and personal contacts should support media efforts from our side to present an accurate picture abroad.
According to an expert on public relations, media campaigns and public relations efforts — though necessary — are not enough to change distorted images. What is required is long-term planning to strengthen mutual relations between different nations through cultural exchange programs, student fellowships and promoting tourism.
Inviting young people from different countries to study in the Kingdom would be a very effective method of creating a positive image of our country. When foreign students live in our midst and return to their homes, they will serve as cultural bridges between their people and us.
Their views and opinions will carry more credibility because their views are based on actual experience and direct observations, unlike secondhand information that is too often hostile, prejudiced or maliciously inaccurate.
Arab News opinion article 28 November 2002
