ASTANA. March 13. KAZINFORM. Kazakh Ambassador Kairat Lama Sharif has met with Minister of Culture and Information of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Dr. Abdul Aziz Khoja to discuss the issues of further development of cultural links in Riyadh today; Kazinform has learnt from the Kazakh Embassy.

The Kazakh diplomat reminded of the Kazakh President's initiative on declaring 2010 as the International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures and Religions supported by the UN General Assembly. He noted that the Days of Culture of Saudi Arabia in Kazakhstan planned for June 1-5 would be held within the framework of this initiative implementation.

The Saudi Minister emphasized the importance of holding the Days of Saudi Arabia, spreading peace-loving religion throughout the Islamic world, in Kazakhstan, which has accumulated rich experience in the sphere of preservation of unity and peaceful coexistence of nations. According to him, Saudi Arabia, which three timed took part in the religious congresses in Astana, intends to arrange an exhibition of the translated into many languages Holy Quran and a photo exhibition devoted to the Kaaba, Prophet Mohammed Mosque and other Islamic values at the Palace of Peace and Accord in Astana. A concert of masters of art and folk groups of the Kingdom is also planned.

The Days of Culture of Saudi Arabia in Kazakhstan will be broadcast by Arab TV channels in Muslim countries, which will, in turn, significantly contribute to familiarization of the Islamic world with the achievements of Kazakhstan on the threshold of the Republic's presidency in Organization of Islamic Conference in 2011.