The Saudi-Spanish Youth Forum, which was opened in Madrid yesterday, gives hope for a bright future for international cooperation based on peace and harmony, said Prince Khaled bin Saud, assistant foreign minister and a member of SAGIA’s board of directors.

Addressing the forum’s opening session, he commended Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah’s interfaith initiative aimed at promoting world peace and stability. “The initiative was set out at the emergency Islamic summit in Makkah in 2005 and was backed by Islamic scholars in 2008,” he said.

Yousuf Al-Saadoun, undersecretary at the Foreign Ministry for economic and cultural affairs, led the Saudi youth delegation to the forum.

This is the eighth international forum attended by the Saudi youth and focuses on the need to protect architectural heritage.

“This forum augurs well with the vision and mission of the interfaith dialogue initiative launched by King Abdullah with the aim of bringing various nations and cultures closer, establishing bridges of love and harmony and achieving better understanding and cooperation among them,” Prince Khaled told the gathering attended by officials, academics and diplomats from both countries.

“This dialogue gives us hope for a brighter future of cooperation at the bilateral as well as international levels,” the minister said while stressing the role of the youth in promoting global peace.

Prince Khaled expressed his hope that the forum would help Saudi and Spanish young men and women exchange their knowledge and expertise in order to expand ties between the two countries.

Spanish State Minister for Foreign Affairs Gonzalo de Benito emphasized the strong and historic relations between the two countries. “There is good cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Spain in many areas and we have identical views on various issues,” the minister said. He praised the forum saying it would help the youth from both countries understand one another’s cultures. “This will definitely lead to bolstering bilateral ties.”

Benito said the forum aims at promoting cultural and scientific exchange. “It will help Saudis understand the Spanish experience in preserving its cultural identity and built heritage,” he pointed out.

Spain is the second largest country in the world known for its built heritage and holds an important position in world history and civilization, he said.

Saudi Ambassador Prince Mansour bin Khaled bin Abdullah Al-Farhan also emphasized the growing Saudi-Spanish relations. “This forum epitomizes the historic ties between the two kingdoms,” he added. “It also reflects the two countries’ desire to expand ties.”

Prince Mansour stressed the significance of built heritage and said the forum would help participants learn more about its cultural and social aspects and its role in promoting civilization.

Speaking about King Abdullah’s interfaith initiative, the ambassador said it aims at building bridges of understanding, tolerance and mutual respect among the followers of different cultures and faiths.