thesilkroadtoday
The session will provide an international platform for public diplomacy leaders, cultural figures, journalists, educators, filmmakers, and representatives of civil society to present ongoing projects and emerging initiatives designed to strengthen international cooperation, mutual understanding, and sustainable partnerships.
Organized within the framework of the Summit, the pitch session reflects a central conviction: public diplomacy achieves its greatest impact when dialogue and mutual trust lead to concrete initiatives and collaborative action. Against a backdrop of growing demand for cross-cultural cooperation, the meeting will explore how local and national projects can develop into international initiatives with lasting social and cultural impact.
Participants will present projects covering a broad range of fields, including culture, education, science, peacebuilding, volunteering, youth engagement, cultural heritage, and international media cooperation.
An important feature of the session is its practical orientation. By bringing project leaders together with representatives of international organizations, academic institutions, cultural bodies, businesses, media outlets, and civil society networks, the event aims to connect promising initiatives with potential partners, expertise, and resources.
An International Gathering of Public Diplomacy Leaders
The session will be moderated by:
- Nurul Ashikin Binti Shamsuri (Malaysia), Founder of the Fearless Foundation.
- Najla Hammad (Jordan), Executive Director and General Coordinator of the Arab Peace Group.
The international speakers represent diverse professional backgrounds and geographical regions:
- Abdesalam Boutayeb (Morocco), Founder of the Center for Shared Memory for Democracy and Peace and the International Shared Memory Film Festival, and laureate of the Fifth International Contest “Leader of Public Diplomacy” in the Cultural Diplomacy category.
- Al-Hussein Rageb (Jordan), Leader of the Syrian National Reform Party.
- Sahar Zaman (India), Journalist, television news reporter, and literary author.
- Denis von Meck (Russia), Social activist, patron of the arts, educator, family historian, and collector.
- Ashraf Aboul-Yazid (Egypt), Writer, poet, translator, and cultural heritage researcher; Secretary-General of the Congress of African Journalists and Vice-President of the World Organization of Writers (WOW).
- Elgame Mirzoeva (UAE), Public diplomat.
- Khalil Hamada Mohammed Jabbarin (Jerusalem), Documentary filmmaker and producer.
- Leen Abdallah Fehmi Alawneh (Jordan), Senior Course Instructor at Thaka Jordan (UCMAS) and Quality Assurance professional at DAD.
- Dalal Salaheddin Refat Abu Oun (Great Britain), Filmmaker, documentary director, and Digital Media Production student.
From Ideas to International Partnerships
The discussion will address some of the most pressing questions facing contemporary public diplomacy: Which initiatives can best strengthen trust among nations? How can successful local projects be transformed into international partnerships? What resources and organizational structures are necessary to ensure sustainability? And how can young people become active participants in shaping a new generation of public diplomacy?
Other key themes include respecting cultural differences while maintaining shared values, measuring the social impact of international initiatives, and identifying collaborative projects that can emerge directly from the Summit.
Particular attention will be given to the role of culture, literature, journalism, documentary filmmaking, education, and shared historical memory in building bridges between societies.
The participation of Ashraf Aboul-Yazid, Secretary-General of the Congress of African Journalists and Vice-President of WOW, brings an African and international literary and media perspective to the discussion. His work across literature, translation, journalism, and cultural heritage reflects the potential of intellectual exchange and cross-cultural communication to contribute to international understanding.
Building a Community That Continues Beyond the Summit
Beyond the presentations themselves, the pitch session seeks to strengthen the growing international community of “Leaders of Public Diplomacy” — individuals committed to implementing practical initiatives that foster trust, cooperation, and solidarity among peoples and nations.
Its ultimate objective is to give promising public initiatives greater international visibility and momentum, encourage the creation of new partnerships, and establish opportunities for joint projects that will continue developing long after the Summit concludes.
By transforming dialogue into cooperation and ideas into tangible achievements, the session reinforces the First World Public Summit: Arab World’s broader vision of a more connected international community, built on cultural understanding, shared responsibility, and a common commitment to peace and sustainable development.
