The activities of Nasser Fellowship for International Leadership resumed for the second week with diverse sessions and tours.
Cultural diplomacy was one of the key topics on the table of the third batch of the fellowship’s events, organised by the Ministry of Youth and Sports and under the auspicious of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi.
The session’s speakers were MP Dr Jihan Zaki and former president of the Academy of Arts in Rome, Dr Magdi Zaabal, former Egyptian cultural counsellor in Uzbekistan and MP Hiyam al-Khattab.
MP Zaki expressed her pride of Africa as one of the pioneer in spreading culture, with a large number of cultural sites listed on World Heritage.
“Egypt is considered one of the cultural leaders globally which is historically documented. The notion of the state was founded more 3000 BC on the banks of Nile. In addition, diplomacy was first known in ancient Egyptian history with the exchange of gifts between leaders and the accompanying of officials during outside visits,” Zaki said.
She noted that the Egyptian Academy of Arts, which was established in Rome in 1926, was the first Arab-African historical cultural body addressing the West in their own lands.
MP al-Tabbakh hailed the role of the Egyptian young people and the Egyptian parliament.
“The government has been adopting empowering young people in leadership posts,” she added.
Tabbakh also highlighted the role of Nasser fellowship in embracing all the friendly countries.
Magdi Zaabal said that African countries are of the basis of culture worldwide.
“President Nasser laid the foundation of new cultural vistas with a number of countries. For instance, after his visit to Uzbekistan in 1962, Arabic language was accredited as a foreign language in three schools there for the first time,” Zaabal said.
Water Resources and Sustainable Development was also one of the key topics highlighted in the fellowship.
Dr Abbas Sharaki, Professor of Geology and Water Resources at Cairo University outlined how Egypt came up against water challenges, mainly drought and water scarcity.
He said that River Nile, Egypt’s main resources of water, is a stable resource , and the state had built the High Dam at Aswan to make the best use of the limited share of water.
Sharaki went on to say climate changes alter the world water map, noting that Egypt would be one of the least affected countries as its all water resources are from outside the border.
The session also highlighted the activities of the World Youth Parliament for Water as a youth entity comprising from specialists and non-specialists in the water file.
The world parliament of water links between water specialists and non-specialists, and decision-makers and public opinion.
It holds a General Assembly every three years, with many local parliaments and working groups.
The importance of youth diplomacy and their role in water diplomacy, especially with the continuous pressures on the available water resources were also part of the session.
There was also a dialogue session on ‘Planning, Development and Decent Life Initiative’.
It witnessed the participation of Ahmed Kamali, Deputy Minister of Planning and Economic Development; Hussein Khader, representative of the German Red Cross; and Muhammad Siddiq, Head of the Engineering sector at the Foundation for a Decent Life Initiative.
Kamali referred to Egypt Vision 2030 as the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development and the objectives of that vision.
He cited the difference between economic growth and development since development is limited to urban communities but the Egyptian comprehensive development plan has been adjusted to contain all regions and areas nationwide.
“I liked the idea of the Decent Life initiative. I wish it all the best and to be a turning point in the Egyptian development,” Hamdi Beledey, a participant from Libya, told the Egyptian Mail.
The Libyan young man added that taking care of the countryside is an indispensable for achieving comprehensive development.
“Decent Life is a distinctive national initiative with much focus on combating extremism as well as stopping the illegal migration,” the representative of the German Red Cross said.
Khader pointed out that illegal migration has reached a large record around the world. He cited many reasons for the trendy cause such as wars, poverty, ignorance and the absence of the role of the state.
As for visits, the delegations participating in the Nasser Fellowship for International Leadership, which includes 150 young leaders from about 73 non-aligned countries and friendly countries, headed to the headquarters of the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where they were received by Dr Hazem Fahmy, Assistant Foreign Minister for Development and International Co-operation, Her Excellency Ambassador Suha Gendy, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for African
Organisations and Gatherings, His Excellency Ambassador Mohamed Negm, Deputy Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Specialised International Agencies, and Minister Plenipotentiary Hassan Al-Nashar, Head of International Agency for Partnership for Development.
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