The forum was organized by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs as part of the Interfaith Dialogue Initiative launched by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah. The 13-day event underscored the harmony and proximity in the viewpoints of both Saudi Arabia and Germany on various fronts, thus contributing to further cementing bilateral relations between the two countries.

Several prominent figures representing Saudi Arabia and Germany attended the concluding session of the forum held at the Saudi Embassy in Berlin. They included Osama Shubokshi, Saudi ambassador to Germany; Prince Muhammad bin Saud bin Khaled, undersecretary for technical affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Yousuf bin Tarad Al-Saadoun, head of the Saudi delegation to the forum; and Stephen Bushfield, deputy president of the Unit for Dialogue with the Muslim World and Media Relations and Cultures in the Middle East. The dignitaries also included diplomatic corps representing various countries accredited to Germany as well as cultural figures and media persons.

Welcoming the gathering, Prince Muhammad bin Saud bin Khaled, who is also general supervisor of the forum, highlighted the significance of the Interfaith Dialogue Initiative launched by King Abdullah, especially in the wake of the technological advancement that brought peoples and cultures from various corners of the planet much closer than ever before.

In his speech, Stephen Bushfield underscored the significance of the forum in enabling the participants to have a proper understanding of each other’s ancient cultures as well as in further bolstering friendly relations between peoples of the two countries. He hoped that the German youth delegation would visit Saudi Arabia to attend a similar forum in the Kingdom next year.

Addressing the forum, Osama Shubokshi said that the activities of the forum that provided an opportunity for Saudi young men and women to have intimate interaction with their German counterparts showed that both countries had common thoughts and perceptions on several fronts.

“This enabled them to break the barriers of distance by crossing thousands of kilometers to have personal interaction with each other,” he said.

Referring to King Abdullah’s Interfaith Dialogue Initiative, which is a message of peace from the Muslim nation to the world, Shubokshi noted that the king had called for better understanding among followers of various religions and cultures.

As part of boosting the initiative and to highlight the fact that Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance, King Abdullah paid a visit to Rome to meet with Pope Benedict XVI. Shubokshi said the proposed visit of German youths to the Kingdom next year would help further promote friendship among the young population of both countries as well as to have a much closer understanding among them. He also thanked the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other institutes and organizations as well as the German officials to make the forum a great success. Yousuf bin Tarad Al-Saadoun also spoke on the occasion.

A bilateral message, presented by the officials of the forum, lauded the commendable role played by King Abdullah and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in promoting global peace as well as in achieving tremendous progress in various branches of science in a way benefiting both countries.

They also presented a series of recommendations and proposals aimed at creating a better environment for scientific research, especially in the fields of alternative energy and non-dependence on oil as the only source of energy. A similar message, focusing on a pollution-free environment, was presented by the representatives of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon at the forum. 

A total of 22 young Saudi men and women participated in the forum that started on Nov. 13. Several officials representing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy and the private sector also took part in the event.

Field visits to a number of German universities as well as scientific and cultural centers and government organizations in Berlin and Hamburg were also conducted on the sidelines of the forum. In addition, there were dialogue and debate sessions among Saudi and German youths focusing on renewal energy, environment and alternative energy. Several young Saudi delegates presented their opinions, viewpoints and proposals on a number of topics pertaining to the future of alternative and renewable energy, pollution-free environment in addition to the ways to further bolster bilateral relations between the two countries.

Speaking to the Saudi Press Agency, they expressed their happiness and pride to have a golden opportunity to represent Saudi Arabia at the forum as well as to portray the clear picture of the remarkable achievements made by Saudi women in various fields. Sarah Al-Salman, a business management student, noted that renewable energy was closely associated with the protection of environment and with the future of human beings. “This is an energy that is best suited with the requirements of life through exploitation of the non-oil natural resources,” she said while stressing the need for making aware of all members of the society about the significance of preserving renewable and alternative energy resources.

Meesa Al-Manie, also a business management student, highlighted the significance of voluntary work. She briefed the German side on her vision and experiment with regard to voluntary work. “The people of both Saudi Arabia and Germany share some points with regard to environment cultures. The German youth delegates showed their interests to listen to the initiatives being taken by King Abdullah for women empowerment, especially the recent decisions to allow them to contest municipal elections and nominate them to the Shoura Council,” she said.

On her part, Ayesha Bashaban, a student of health sciences who is well versed in German language, said that the forum gave an opportunity to present the true picture about Saudi Arabia and the broad principles of the religion of Islam, which stand for the progress of science and knowledge.

Noura bint Yousuf Mansuri, a student at the department of carbon for sustainable growth, said: “I briefed the German side on the salient features of the Kingdom’s energy vision and the serious steps taken to preserve its depleted natural resources. I also informed them about the Kingdom’s setting up of King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy as well as its efforts to benefit from renewable energy technology from the developed countries, including Germany,” she said. Another Saudi girl student, Sarah Madani, highlighted the vast potential of her desert country for using solar energy as one of the best alternative for oil.