LONDON, April 16, (KUNA): His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah will arrive in the UK on Saturday on a visit during which he is to deliver a lecture at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, titled ‘Reform Memo is Changing Times: A Kuwaiti Vision’.
Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in London, Kuwaiti Ambassador Khalid Al-Duwaisan, told KUNA that His Highness Sheikh Nasser would be delivering the lecture on Monday at Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, at Oxford University, saying that this was one of the world’s most prestigious institutions that have carried out academic studies related to Islam, and acted as a bridge between the Western and Islamic worlds.
He also noted that the centre attracts elite researchers and politicians interested in Islamic studies and the Muslim world, explaining that the centre is engaged in research, teaching and spreading knowledge about the Muslim world.
Ambassador Al-Duwaisan added that the centre seeks to create a deeper understanding of Islam and the Muslim world.
He said that Kuwait was one of the big supporters of the centre through the contributions of Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS), as directed by the late Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. KFAS continues to support the centre today under the directions of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the chairman of the foundation.
Contribution
Moreover, he said Kuwait made a substantial financial contribution to the centre’s library, which would be set up in the new building and would bear Kuwait’s name. With this, the area of the library will quadruple.
He also noted that KFAS financed the Kuwait Chair for Arabic and Islamic Studies at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies.
The new building will showcase classical Islamic architecture and will include a mosque with a dome, high minaret and a large exhibition hall.
His Highness the Amir recently made a 10 million pound contribution to the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies. The contribution was presented by Kuwait’s Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah - a member of the centre’s Board of Trustees - to Prince Charles in January.
Prince Charles is the honorary president of the Kuwaiti-British Friendship Committee, and has been the honorary president of the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies since it was established in 1985.
His Highness Sheikh Nasser will be the first Arab premier to deliver a lecture at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies.
The delegation accompanying His Highness Sheikh Nasser includes Advisor at the Amir’s Office Abdulrahman Al-Ateeqi, Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, Advisor at the Premier’s Diwan Faisal Al-Hajji, Finance Minister Mustafa Al-Shimali, Commerce and Industry Minister Ahmad Al-Haroun, top government officials, as well as delegations from Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Kuwait Journalists Association.
His Highness Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah visited Friday the Arab World Institute (IMA) in Paris.
He was received by the Institute’s President Dominique Baudis and other officials of the institute.
Sheikh Nasser was briefed about the history of the institute, established in 1980, which aimed to disseminate information about the Arab world and set in motion detailed research to cover Arabic and the Arab world’s cultural and spiritual values.
His Highness Sheikh Nasser then visited an exhibition showcasing eastern handmade crafts and products.