Revitalising education to be my priority: Dr Al Kawari

DOHA: H E Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kawari (pictured), adviser at the Emiri Diwan and Qatar’s candidate for the post of Director General of Unesco, has said revitalising education will be one of his main priorities if elected. Al Kawari is in China upon invitation to present his electoral programme under the theme “Towards a New Start for Unesco.”
“I am very keen to give education a priority position in the programmes I implement so that Unesco continues its efforts in this important field and works towards a future where all technological means are utilized to fight educational decline and create new partnerships among countries along with the best universities in the world,” he said. While citing the strong commitment and experience of both countries in the field of education, he underscored revitalized education as the need of the hour and key to global sustainable development.
He said education is “a path towards sustainable development and contributes to providing well-informed citizens the necessary means to overcome the stringent difficulties in their daily life while also helping the political leaders to conduct the right decisions in order to build a resoundingly sustainable world.” He also stressed the importance of cultural exchange and mutual respect as well as his strong stance towards tolerance amid terrorism that has damaged heritage sites around the world.
“In France, South Africa and Tunisia I called for the establishment of an International Day of Culture against terrorism. I hereby renew my call here in China so that the world as a whole will become more stable and peace will spread across the land just like the Great Wall of China.”
“We are now in high need to enhance our visions and relations in order to consolidate the values of tolerance and human rights and to cherish our belonging to our humanity with as much pride as we put into belonging to our nations. We should defend human beings wherever they are and whatever their culture, as long as they believe in common values and strengthen the pillars of peace.”

I am incredibly pleased to be with you today, breathing in the air of cultures that have always believed in peaceful coexistence and the truly rewarding exchange of knowledge. I am also quite pleased to convey to you the appreciation of His Highness the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who has strengthened the on-going bilateral relations between both of our countries on the political, economic and cultural levels, and is highly confident in the joint role of both the State of Qatar and the People’s Republic of China in the development of productive dialogue amongst the people of the world.
Both countries have continually sought to maintain the strong ties between Arabs and China going all the way back to ancient times. Arabs were always in close contact with China as they exchanged commercial and cultural relations all the way up to our present time. Many world changing events prove the depth of these relations despite the constant ebb and flow among peoples throughout human civilisation. With this in mind, I am proud to state that Arab-Chinese relations have always maintained their principles and even vastly evolved over the sands of time through mutual understanding that allowed the diverse cultures to realise the deeper meaning of closeness, working together and believing in the harmony that emanates from such relationships.
The University of Peking is undoubtedly a steady symbol of this close relationship between China and Arabs through contemporary History; it has been a pioneer in setting up in 1946 the Department of Arabic language and Culture, and as a result of such openness a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with the University of Qatar in 2012. The State of Qatar reacted positively with the sincere will of Peking University to develop Qatari-Chinese relations, and during his visit in China in 2014, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar announced the foundation of Qatar Chair for Middle East Studies at the University of Peking with a grant of ten million US dollars. Last August, the relative agreement was signed, and it is considered as an achievement that boosts the cooperation with the entire Arab region.
I am profoundly pleased today because I am running for the leadership position of Unesco as I see its astute intellectual and moral principles genuinely reflected in the Arab-Chinese relations that are reflected in the meaning of respect of cultures despite various differences. This unique cultural diversity has contributed in enriching the Arab and Chinese civilisations alike. The “Silk Road” that linked China to the Arab world for more than two thousand years embodies the common inherent heritage between both Chinese and Arab civilisations. I believe that the “Belt and Road Initiative” launched by China in 2013 was a revival of the old Silk Road and the marine Silk Road, as the Arab region is an important geographical aspect of its overall implementation. Unesco added the «Great Silk Road” to the World Heritage List due to its historical role in the development of economic and cultural relations the diverse people of the regions. 
I believe that China embodies the perfect expression of cultural diversity, whether in its social composition or in its direct relation with Arabs. This diversity and cultural embodiment is what makes the Chinese people more understanding when it comes to the importance of the role of Unesco at this time in history, especially when it comes to the resolute need to continually expand cultural dialogue between nations for the sake of overall world peace.
There is a general consensus about the fact that Unesco faces a sharp financial crisis that requires creative solutions and innovative minds in dealing with it. Several countries from all continents donated generously to Unesco all along its successful journey despite the obstacles and harsh times, allowing the international organization to achieve outstanding results in education, culture and science. China is a speaking example of a nation that supported and still supports Unesco initiatives and therefore, it has framed a paradigm to follow. In addition to single countries, all Secretaries General and their staff made exceptional achievements that I respectfully hail.
However, Unesco needs a new momentum marked by innovative and creative solutions adapted to our global environment and able to remediate and mitigate the shortcomings that impede good performance. I am very confident that once we communicate adequately the noble objectives of Unesco at a large scale, the whole world will perceive its importance – today more than ever – in building peace in the minds of men and women. Then, donors, supporters and friends will respond and provide the necessary means allowing Unesco to fulfill its ambitions at the service of Mankind.
China’s unique cultural influence is quite evident throughout the Arab-Islamic civilisation. Many devout Chinese artists took their work to the Middle East and Chinese antiquities have long ago reached the Arab and Islamic world and influenced people to the point where they even decorated some of their most beautiful and ornate mosques with them. Many Arab artists were directly influenced by various Chinese methods orchestrated and observed in the Chinese antiques or language emanating through the Chinese artists. Arabs have certainly appreciated the illustrious position of China since ancient times. Ibn Khaldun considered China one of the most important nations known for its multiple manufacturing centers. To quote, he said: “Look at China... With its diverse manufacturing that other nations have imported from them.” The historian Abu’l-Fida wrote “The Chinese are the smartest people when it comes to industry and the smartest people in carving and drawing. The Chinese do with their hands what all other people have failed to do.” These quotes are proof that the Arab world truly holds great respect for the long lived Chinese cultural contribution towards the betterment of humanity.
Considering that the Arab-Chinese relationship is firmly based on dialogue, the best picture that embodies this unwavering dialogue through time is the journey of Ibn Battuta, one of the most famous travellers in the world to China, who presented China to the Arab world and the distant western world alike. His book “A Gift to Those Who Contemplate the Wonders of Cities and the Marvels of Travelling” was translated from Arabic to Chinese and strongly contributed in the cultural exchange between China and the Arab world.
In his fascinating treatise, Ibn Battuta described the life of Chinese people and considered their country “one of the greatest nations” and the “safest and best country for travellers”. He sincerely praised its religious tolerance when writing that “Every city of China has a Muslim Sheikh”. He also cited the genuine love and interest of Chinese people in the wonderful arts and culture: “As per drawing, no one can reach the level of Chinese people, not Romans, nor others. They make wonders and I never returned to any of their cities after an earlier visit without finding my portrait and the portraits of my companions drawn on the walls and on sheets of paper exhibited in the bazaars.” Ibn Battuta also mentions the greatness of Chinese endeavours when it comes to the world of industry by writing “It is the greatest nation in industries, and for that, it is truly famous”.
A remarkably similar experience was that of the Chinese traveller “Wang Dayuan” who introduced the Arab civilisation to China through his trips to many Arab countries in the fourteenth century. He provided the Chinese civilization information on Arab countries and played a vital role in the on-going development of relations between China and the Arab world. These trips are considered to be a significant aspect of the cultural dialogue between the two civilizations and are not simply limited to importance in the Middle Ages only. At present, Qatar has named the year 2016 as the Cultural Year of China, as it reflects upon and appreciates the long-standing role of Chinese-Qatari relations and it emphasises the continuing importance of culture as an instrument for bringing people together. I was incredibly honoured to launch this prestigious event in my position as Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage and I stressed that the Chinese-Qatari cultural year is a highly valuable opportunity for direct interaction between Qatar and other cultures. These cultural relations are a driving force towards on-going cooperation that serves the overall good in all fields, including the economic field.
Today, we are the descendants of Ibn Battuta and Wang Dayuan who drew the cultural dialogue road map and we adhere to this fruitful inheritance and seek to renew it at all times as best we can. At every point in time, humanity needs to follow a new stream and build upon the relations between peoples, thus, renewing interaction. Hence the reason international organizations never dispense of this adherent principle. With this in mind, I chose the slogan of my candidacy campaign for the management of Unesco to be “Towards a New Start”, which implies a breakthrough to regain a renewal of the key principles established by the initial founders of Unesco. Throughout my years of living among Arab scientific civilisations, I realized the importance of the common exchange of intellectual and cultural diversity while working in the diplomatic field. I also realised, during my studies in Egypt, Lebanon, France and the USA that cultural exchange renews humanity and further develops societies, and knowing such, we are now in high need to enhance our visions and relations in order to consolidate the values of tolerance and human rights and to cherish our belonging to our humanity with as much pride as we put into belonging to our nations. We should defend human beings wherever they are and whatever their culture, as long as they believe in common values and strengthen the pillars of peace.
I believe that the Chinese people truly appreciate the importance of culture as an instrument of soft power and you realise, through your deep historical experience in building the State institutions and civilisation, the meaning of “Reconstruction of Minds”. You are also aware that the world needs inspirational ideals that cannot be achieved without culture and the mutual respect of others. This embodies my strong stance towards tolerance that I stated to the international community when terrorism was spread throughout the world damaging humanity and its great social heritage. In France, South Africa and Tunisia I called for the establishment of an International Day of Culture against terrorism. I hereby renew my call here in China so that the world as a whole will become more stable and peace will spread across the land just like the Great Wall of China.
Terrorism is currently affecting human heritage and undermining our common faith in these shared noble values we all hold to be true. Terrorists have attacked landmarks and sites that once witnessed the historical exchange of dialogue and interaction between diverse cultures and peoples. They seek to erase from our memory, and the memory of the coming generations, the meaning of tolerance and the unique differences between peoples. Our collective cultural integration stems from our resplendent diversity and not simply from our similarities. It stems from enlightened minds and not minds that see the world only with one eye closed which locks human in a path of malevolent thinking and behaviour. Unesco awaits the coming steps to enact laws that protect the tangible and intangible heritage of humanity and criminalize the attacks upon our foundations it as it is the legitimate protector of world heritage.
The people of China are, thanks to their excellent reputation in the field, fully aware that the “Reconstruction of Minds” can only be effectually achieved through enlightenment and education. I have no doubt that China highly appreciates the meaning of combatting illiteracy and spreading continual education. China has diligently fought, during modern and past times, the battle for education and sought to spread it to every corner of the country so that all Chinese people become effective, empowered citizens in their country. I, also, belong to a country that believes in the value of education. My country supported major projects in this field, including the «Educate a Child” initiative that allowed more than 10 million people around the world to achieve their educational goals. I am very keen to give education a priority position in the programs I implement so that Unesco continues its efforts in this important field and works towards a future where all technological means are utilized to fight educational decline and create new partnerships among countries along with the best universities in the world. I also seek to help fund schools that will benefit millions of underprivileged children in disadvantaged areas, so that knowledge is imparted in the most progressive way to fight ignorance that converts human energy into a destructive tool, and instead, making it a tool that enhances civilisation. As the Chinese saying goes: “A jade stone is useless before it is processed; a man is good-for-nothing until he is educated”.
The more we seek to revitalise education, the more we move closer to achieving sustainable development and providing global manpower that completes the circle of life. If sustainable development is more directly focused on meeting present needs, then it will also enhance the abilities of the future generations. This focus is aimed at enabling students in the techniques, skills and values to develop society more fully and to keep track of the requirements related to the educational curricula and the development of new policies based on the establishment of partnerships within the private sector. Thus, education becomes a path towards sustainable development and contributes to providing well-informed citizens the necessary means to overcome the stringent difficulties in their daily life while also helping the political leaders to conduct the right decisions in order to build a resoundingly sustainable world.
I believe that the Chinese experience in this field is highly worth of discussion as it has garnered a reputation throughout the entire world. China was able to achieve its development goals of the Millennium and it achieved resolute progress in universal primary education, encouraged gender equality and protected the health of women and children so it became a practical model for consecration of sustainable development. I am sure that the success of the Chinese experience provides great hope to the World’s developing countries, thus, encouraging them to imitate China and rely on their own self abilities in achieving educational and economic development.
Today, we all live during a sensitive stage in the history of human civilisation. This stage requires the establishment of international understanding based on mutual dialogue between cultures and this understanding is conditioned by the adoption of a new humanitarian intellect that achieves the concept of globalism through the recognition of common values that embrace the diversity of cultures. I strongly believe that China plays a significant role in perpetuating this path forward due to its historical heritage based on a belief in the value of cultural exchange and its great rewards that link history, culture and education to the bridge of sustainable development.
Let us go forward and work together to achieve a new balance in the world based on the mutual respect and understanding of cultures which instills knowledge in the minds of all human beings, while also restoring hope of participation to all humans in the building of civilisation.