thesilkroadtoday
The session will take place on November 10, from 12:30 to 13:30, at Signia by Hilton Amman, bringing together distinguished public diplomacy leaders, politicians, civil society representatives, academics, and institutional figures from different regions of the world.
The panel will examine the growing importance of public diplomacy in contemporary international relations, particularly as traditional channels of communication increasingly require complementary forms of direct engagement among people, professional communities, and civic institutions.
From Dialogue to Trust and Joint Action
At the heart of the discussion is the belief that effective public diplomacy must go beyond formal meetings and symbolic gestures. Its real value emerges when personal connections develop into mutual trust, when dialogue generates practical cooperation, and when individual initiatives become sustainable partnerships between institutions and countries.
The discussion will explore the contribution of non-governmental organizations, universities, research centres, cultural institutions, media organizations, business communities, youth networks, and women’s associations to strengthening international humanitarian and civic cooperation.
Among the principal themes will be cultural and educational exchanges, volunteering, tourism, youth initiatives, humanitarian projects, expert networks, and the development of new forms of institutional cooperation.
International Moderators
The session will be moderated by two experienced figures in international cultural and public diplomacy:
- Kabulzhon Sabirov (Uzbekistan), Director of Public Diplomacy of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in Uzbekistan.
- Mohammed Kamel Al-Muaini (UAE), President of the Institute of Cultural Diplomacy.
Their professional backgrounds reflect the growing importance of connecting regional initiatives with broader international networks.
Distinguished Speakers from Five Countries
The panel will feature prominent speakers representing different political, professional, and civil society backgrounds:
- Bannu Nurgaziyeva (Kazakhstan), President of the Association of Legal Entities “Civil Alliance of Kazakhstan.”
- Dalbir Singh (India), Member of the Supreme Advisory Council of the World Peoples Assembly, President of the Foundation for Policy and Governance, and Chairman of the One Globe Forum.
- Ziad Al-Zu’bi (Jordan), President of the Jordanian Medical Association.
- Mariam Al-Sadiq Al-Mahdi (Sudan), Minister of Foreign Affairs in 2021.
-
Waldemar Herdt (Germany), Co-Chairperson of the Supreme Advisory Council of the World Peoples Assembly - Waldemar Herdt (Germany), Co-Chairperson of the Supreme Advisory Council of the World Peoples Assembly, Chairperson of the International Council of Russian Germans, politician, public figure, entrepreneur, and former Member of the German Bundestag (2017–2021).
-
The World Public Assembly is an international platform for public dialogue dedicated to the search for values that can strengthen trust between peoples, develop international humanitarian cooperation, and shape a vision of the future based on mutual respect, partnership, and shared responsibility
Youth, Women, Culture, and Digital Diplomacy
Particular attention will be given to the role of young people and women in building new international civic networks. Participants will consider how women’s leadership, youth programmes, educational exchanges, and professional cooperation can create lasting relationships across national and cultural boundaries.
The panel will also address digital public diplomacy, examining how modern media and communication technologies can expand international dialogue while maintaining information reliability, professional responsibility, and respect for cultural differences.
Another important question concerns measuring the actual impact of public diplomacy. Rather than counting meetings and contacts alone, the discussion will emphasize tangible outcomes: joint projects, institutional agreements, educational exchanges, humanitarian initiatives, and sustainable international communities.
Turning International Encounters into Lasting Partnerships
The session reflects one of the central ambitions of the First World Public Summit: Arab World — transforming international dialogue into meaningful cooperation.
By bringing together representatives from Central Asia, South Asia, the Arab world, Africa, and Europe, the panel seeks to identify practical mechanisms through which civic initiatives can become long-term institutional partnerships.
Its underlying message is clear: public diplomacy begins with human interaction, develops through trust, and achieves its greatest value when people and institutions work together to create a better common future.
