On the Meeting of IAPDE President Arthur Khachatryan with H.E. Mr. Abdulrahman bin Suleiman Al-Ahmed, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Saudi Arabia to Russia

H.E. Mr. Abdulrahman bin Suleiman Al-Ahmed, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Saudi Arabia to Russia, received the President of the International Association of Public Diplomacy Experts (IAPDE), Arthur Khachatryan, and the General Director of the Association of Laureates of the International Tchaikovsky Competition, Andrey Shcherbak.

Welcoming the guests H.E. Mr. Abdulrahman bin Suleiman Al-Ahmed, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Saudi Arabia to Russia, emphasized that today bilateral relations between Russia and Saudi Arabia are on the rise due to the intensification of high-level contacts. According to the head of the Saudi diplomatic mission, relations between the two countries are currently reaching a new level of development. In his turn, the President of IAPDE noted that, against the backdrop of ongoing cultural and civilizational processes in the modern world, the cultural sphere holds significant potential for bilateral cooperation.

At the time of global instability, one of the main activities of the newly established Association of Public Diplomacy Experts is to find new universal mechanisms to stimulate constructive dialogue processes. In this regard, "musical diplomacy" has gained special relevance.

Andrey Shcherbak briefly outlined the priorities and strategy of the Association he has led for the past thirty years, focusing on the idea of using youth "musical diplomacy" to develop cultural ties between countries. To develop this theme, Ivan Shcherbak, Executive Director of the International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians, presented a general concept of a possible International Tchaikovsky Competition in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

This joint initiative from IAPDE and the Association of Laureates of the International Tchaikovsky Competition was met with interest by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Saudi Arabia, who promised to provide all possible support for the implementation of this unique international music project.

Members of the Russian delegation thanked H.E. Mr. Abdulrahman bin Suleiman Al- Ahmed, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Saudi Arabia to Russia, for the meeting and constructive conversation.