PARIS — Saudi Arabia participated in the 220th session of the Executive Board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which concluded its meetings on Wednesday at the organization's headquarters in Paris, France. The Kingdom was represented by its Permanent Delegation to UNESCO, the Saudi National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, and various relevant national entities. The Saudi delegation was led by Fahad Al-Ruwaili, the Saudi Ambassador to France and the Principality of Monaco, who serves as the Kingdom's designated permanent representative to UNESCO. During the session, the delegation emphasized Saudi Arabia's commitment to being a leader in artificial intelligence (AI) for the benefit of humanity. It highlighted the Kingdom's early adoption of UNESCO's Ethics of Artificial Intelligence and its advocacy for these principles to promote sustainable development goals (SDGs) at the national level. Additionally, Saudi Arabia is spearheading regional efforts by hosting the International Center for Artificial Intelligence Research and Ethics (ICAIRE), promoting the international adoption of these ethical standards to support the achievement of SDGs in collaboration with global partners. The Kingdom's draft resolution regarding ICAIRE contributed significantly to discussions surrounding AI. The Saudi delegation also attended a national commissions meeting on the sidelines of the Executive Board session, where several resolutions addressing procedural, substantive, financial, and administrative matters were issued. As one of UNESCO's founding members, Saudi Arabia has a history of continuous progress and strategic partnership with the organization. The Kingdom was chosen to lead the Open-Ended Working Group aimed at achieving balance in the UNESCO World Heritage List and is a member of UNESCO's Executive Board, reflecting its pivotal and active role in decision-making within the organization.
