Kazakhstan and Saudi Arabia intensify cultural ties

On May 17, 2022, in Riyadh, H.E. Mr. Berik Aryn, the Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Saudi Arabia, held a meeting with H.E. Mr. Fahd Al-Kanaan, the Deputy Minister of Culture of Saudi Arabia.

During the meeting, the parties discussed several topics on developing bilateral cooperation in the cultural and humanitarian spheres, including cultural days and other joint Kazakh-Saudi cultural events. The parties placed a strong emphasis on the issue of screening the film entitled "The Ambassador," which will tell about the life and work of the famous Kazakh diplomat Nazir Torekulov.

Currently, the Kazakh film company "Projects House" plans to make a movie about Nazir Torekulov, who was the Consul General and then the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Envoy of the USSR to the Kingdom of Hejaz, Nejd, and unified territories from 1928 to 1936. At the same time, some episodes of the movie are planned to be filmed in Saudi Arabia.

The parties also considered the possibility of participation of creative groups of Kazakhstan in ongoing cultural festivals in Saudi Arabia, the demonstration of Kazakh films, and the publication of translations of the works of literature of famous authors of both countries in Kazakh and Arabic.

In turn, H.E. Mr. Fahd Al-Kanaan noted the importance of strengthening cultural and humanitarian relations and expressed the readiness of the Saudi side to establish close cooperation with the Ministry of Culture and Sports of Kazakhstan and sign the MoU. He also invited representatives of Kazakhstan to take part in the book fair to be held in Riyadh in September this year.