Cultural Diplomacy Enhances Cohesion Among Peoples: International Media Conference In Abu Dhabi

Cultural diplomacy enhances cohesion among peoples: International media conference in Abu Dhabi

The participants of the "International Conference on the Impact of Media on Diplomacy, Security, Nation-Building and Statecraft," which was held today in Abu Dhabi, highlighted the key role of cultural diplomacy in promoting cohesion between peoples and the values of tolerance

ABU DHABI, (Pakistan Point News - 28th Feb, 2019) The participants of the "International Conference on the Impact of Media on Diplomacy, Security, Nation-Building and Statecraft," which was held today in Abu Dhabi, highlighted the key role of cultural diplomacy in promoting cohesion between peoples and the values of tolerance.

In a statement to the Emirates news Agency, WAM, at the conference, which was organised by the Dubai-based International Institute for Cultural Diplomacy, IICD, in cooperation with the British school of Management at the Glasgow Caledonian University, IICD Founder and Chairman Dr. Mohammed Kamil Al Muaini said that cultural diplomacy helps to spread the values of tolerance and promote intellectual and moral exchange between societies.

He also stressed that the UAE is a nation of tolerance and has adopted a foreign policy based on wisdom, moderation and safeguarding the interests of nations and citizens while pointing out that the conference’s participants presented their research papers on the impact of the media, including social media, on the state, and how to create an image that positively affects a state's reputation, to create a more tolerant, loving and cooperative environment.

A distinguished panel noted that the "Human Fraternity Meeting" in the UAE during the historic visit of Pope Francis, Head of the Catholic Church, and Dr. Ahmed el-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al Azhar, is a clear message to the world and a call for tolerance, love, peace and coexistence during the Year of Tolerance.

The conference examined the changes that need to be made in the practice of diplomacy in a mutating international environment, the emerging security threats and the challenges facing the digital nation state. It focused on means to achieve a more secure, equitable and sustainable world order in the face of the global challenges compounded by the use and frequent misuse of the Mass Media in relation to security and nation-building.

Subject matter experts in various fields of politics, economy, culture and media, in addition to university professors, ambassadors, public and security experts from Arab and foreign countries around the world addressed several topics on how to rebuild national image, link it to information sources, including social media, and use successful campaigns in the media to build and promote the nation. The conference tackled ways to protect the national image in the 21st century and protect the national security by the modern media. It also discussed the effects of aesthetics or ugliness of social media, which is becoming more popular and has a direct impact on the national image and its role in promoting scientific diplomacy, tolerance, peace and gender empowerment.