(MENAFN- The Peninsula) QNA
Doha, Qatar: Qatar has succeeded in promoting the cultural diversity to be a critical tributary for sustainable development, experts have said.
Speaking to QNA on the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, which falls on May 21 each year, they noted that Qatar's interest in promoting coexistence, alliance of civilizations, cultural diversity and innovation contributes to development.
Permanent Representative of Qatar to Unesco H E Dr. Nasser bin Hamad Al Hanzab said Qatar believes in the role of culture, not only as a tributary to dialogue among civilizations, but also as a fundamental pillar of its National Vision 2030, along with the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 endorsed by the United Nations in 2015.
Qatar, represented by the Ministry of Culture and several cultural institutions such as Qatar Museums and Katara, have really supported creativity such as art, diverse cultural activities, crafts, music and plastic art, Dr. Al Hanzab pointed out, adding that Qatar has dedicated the general art and creativity to them rendering them ubiquitous across the country.
He indicated that Qatar has presented a model to the international community on the methods of achieving the sustainable development goals through supporting young people to engage in cultural and innovative activities until some of their arts become globalised, including the support provided by the Doha Film Institute to young people in Qatar to refine their artistic talents through local and international engagements.
This support has an essential role in bolstering the culture's role in achieving the national development and promoting the cultural role of Qatar at the international level, he noted.
Al Hanzab emphasised that Qatar strives to promote the cultural diversity in development fields through its national policies and vision and has provided the conducive environment for creativity through a wide spectrum of cultural institutions operating in various fields.
Qatar is one of the countries that supports the Unesco's plans and programmes regarding the sector of culture, he noted, adding that Qatar joined the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions of 2005 on April 21, 2009, and is a key partner of Unesco through its multiple initiatives and comprehensive commitments in cooperation with the international community.
Director of the Unesco Regional Office in Doha H E Salah El Din Zaki Khaled asserted the Unesco's keenness to support creative and cultural activities, in addition to promoting and protecting the freedom of all forms of cultural expressions in light of a consolidated conviction that investment in creativity can change communities, making them meaningful and more inclusive.
Culture is an active and vital driver for sustainable development and is essential to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals of 2030, he pointed out, adding that culture contributes to human, social and economic development, as well as good education, social integration, sustainable cities, and environment.
He praised the efforts undertaken by Qatar in improving the career, social and economic status for the artists and those who work in the culture sector, whether in Qatar or other countries, noting that Doha has joined the network of the creative cities in design area, along with its participation in the Unesco World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development MONDIACULT 2022, which was held in Mexico.
Khaled hailed the burgeoning artistic and creative movement that has evolved in Qatar in recent years, either through the efforts made by the Ministry of Culture, or the Qatar Museums which leads several initiatives in areas of culture, arts and creativity promoting Qatar's outstanding role in rapprochement and inter-cultural dialogue.