General Manager of the Cultural Village Foundation – Katara and President of the Global Public Diplomacy Network (GPD-Net) Prof Dr. Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti (second right); Secretary-General of GPD-Net and CEO of Katara Center for Public Diplomacy, Maryam Al Saad (second left); and other dignitaries at the event yesterday.
Doha, Qatar: The General Manager of the Cultural Village Foundation – Katara and President of the Global Public Diplomacy Network (GPD-Net), Prof Dr. Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti, was unanimously re-elected to serve a third term as president of the organisation from 2025 to 2028. This decision was made during the ongoing 10th General Assembly of GPD-Net, taking place at Katara in Doha.
This resolution serves as a testament to the remarkable achievements of Katara in steering the network and bolstering its vital role in cultural and public diplomacy.
The event was attended by Maryam Al Saad, Secretary-General of GPD-Net and CEO of Katara Center for Public Diplomacy, along with heads of delegations from 20 member states.
In his opening remarks, Al Sulaiti welcomed the participants to this cultural landmark, which symbolizes the essence of dialogue and communication among nations. He emphasized that the network’s decade-long journey underscores its success in establishing public diplomacy as a vital tool for fostering understanding and cultural exchange. He noted the significant role of culture, arts, and media in creating avenues for dialogue and international collaboration.
Al Sulaiti highlighted the growing challenges faced by the world today, underscoring the heightened importance of public diplomacy. He called for an emphasis on enhancing cultural and regional cooperation to maximize the impact of initiatives, while also advocating for the expansion of digital and media diplomacy to engage new audiences. Furthermore, he stressed the importance of empowering youth as the key drivers of future cultural dialogue.
In her opening address, Al Saad highlighted the critical need for cooperation and innovation in advancing public diplomacy. She underscored the pivotal role of journalism in facilitating international dialogue and the essential function of media in bridging cultural divides. Additionally, she discussed the primary objectives of establishing the GPT-Net Academy, as well as awareness initiatives and the organization of an upcoming international cultural event scheduled for 2025-2026. Al Saad said the tenth General Assembly serves as a significant milestone for shaping the network’s vision for the 2020-2030 period, emphasising the importance of enhancing cultural and digital interactions.
