ISTANBUL: Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman arrived here Wednesday for the 13th Islamic Summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to discuss various challenges facing the Arab world.

At Ataturk International Airport, the king was received by the Minister of Development Cevdet Yilmaz and a number of Turkish officials.

Meanwhile, the foreign ministers of the OIC member states concluded their preparatory meeting for the summit being held under the theme “Unity and Solidarity for Justice and Peace.”

The issues include the question of Palestine and the Arab-Israeli conflict, conflict situations in the Muslim world and migration, situation of Muslim communities in non-OIC member states, combating terrorism and violent extremism, Islamophobia, and the humanitarian situation in the Muslim world.

Twelve issues have been tabled for discussion by leaders of the Muslim world at the meeting starting today.

There would also be discussion on the OIC Program of Action: 2016-2025, advancing scientific cooperation among member states in the areas of health, higher education and environment, advancing cultural, social and information cooperation in the Muslim world, poverty eradication and development of infrastructure in the OIC member states, legal and statutory issues, and empowering OIC to deliver on its mandate.

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held talks Wednesday with the OIC Secretary-General Iyad Madani on the sidelines of the preparatory meetings for summit to be chaired by Turkey.