Muscat: His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik visited the headquarters of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in the French capital, Paris today, as part of His Majesty's official visit to the French Republic.
According to Oman News Agency, upon His Majesty's arrival at the Organization's headquarters, he was received by Dr. Khaled El-Enany, Director-General of UNESCO; Dr. Madiha bint Ahmed Al Shaibani, Minister of Education; Amina bint Salem Al Balushi, Oman's Permanent Delegate to the UNESCO; and a number of senior officials of the Organization, who welcomed His Majesty and conveyed their profound honour at receiving this gracious visit.
Subsequently, His Majesty viewed the "Oman and UNESCO" exhibition, which showcases the enduring collaboration between the Sultanate of Oman and the Organization, together with the notable achievements realised in the fields of culture, education, and heritage.
His Majesty then proceeded to the Organization's main hall, where the Director-General of UNESCO delivered an address of welcome, expressing his great delight and pride at His Majesty's visit and commending the civilisational and cultural role that the Sultanate of Oman plays in advancing the values of dialogue and mutual understanding among nations. Following this, His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik graciously delivered an address highlighting the historical ties between Oman and UNESCO and the Sultanate's contributions to global peace and cultural dialogue.
The visit also saw the announcement of the "UNESCO-Sultan Haitham Prize for Intangible Cultural Heritage," an initiative to honour efforts in the field of intangible cultural heritage. His Majesty emphasized the importance of international partnerships in addressing climate change and the commitment of the Sultanate to achieving carbon neutrality through renewable energy projects.
His Majesty concluded the visit by signing the Distinguished Visitors' Book at UNESCO and exchanging commemorative gifts with the Organization, reaffirming Oman's commitment to supporting UNESCO's mission in education, science, culture, and communication.