Ecuador Minister Highlights Role Of Art, Culture In Global Diplomacy

(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Fazeena Saleem | The Peninsula

Doha, Qatar: Ecuador's Minister of Culture H E Romina Muñoz has emphasised the significant role art and culture plays in fostering international understanding and strengthening ties between nations.

Speaking to The Peninsula yesterday on the sidelines of the Doha Forum, Muñoz shared her insights on the importance of cultural exchange and diplomacy.“The Doha Forum is an important platform as it brings together people from different countries, offering opportunities to exchange best practices and learn from each other,” Muñoz said.“Understanding other countries and their cultures is crucial, as it broadens our perspective and changes how we view the world. This dialogue and exchange of experiences ultimately help strengthen relationships between countries,” she added.

At the Doha Forum, Muñoz participated in a session focused on the transformative power of art, where she engaged with several experts.“We are here to discuss the importance of art, and I am having a great experience. We are engaging with museum directors who are sharing their experiences, discussing their work, and exploring how art can improve our quality of life,” she said.

Muñoz stressed the significance of cultural diplomacy, noting that it plays a key role in connecting people.“Cultural diplomacy is very important because it connects people. Art is a powerful way to showcase our differences and similarities. It has a unique ability to touch others in a sensitive way, helping us engage with one another. While other forms of production may be distant or hard to access for some people, art has a special lightness that can provoke unexpected experiences. These experiences are often unplanned, which is part of its potential.”

The Minister also emphasised the importance of supporting and defending cultural diplomacy.“If we want to understand the culture of another country, art is a key means of doing so. It has the ability to build bridges between cultures, allowing us to better understand and appreciate each other,” Muñoz said.

Her passion for museums was evident as she reflected on the role they play in promoting cultural exchange. She highlighted Qatar's remarkable efforts in developing its art scene, particularly its growing collection of museums.“Qatar is doing great work and has exciting plans for the future of its art scene. I understand that you plan to open several new museums, which demonstrates your interest in sharing your culture with the world,” she said. Muñoz noted that museums are not only vital for showcasing a nation's history but also serve as platforms to display the achievements of other countries.“Museums play a key role in this by showcasing a country's history, but they also provide a platform to display the achievements of other nations, allowing us to explore both differences and commonalities.”

With Qatar's commitment to creating new spaces for cultural exchange, Muñoz expressed excitement for the future of the country's art scene.“It's exciting to see Qatar creating more spaces to showcase this cultural exchange. These efforts will undoubtedly deepen international dialogue and further the understanding between people from different parts of the world.”

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