JEDDAH – Makkah Emir Prince Khaled Al-Faisal has approved 11 cultural activities for the seventh Souk Okaz cultural festival. The prince is also chairman of the higher supervisory committee of the event, which he will launch on Sept. 10. Chairman of Souk Okaz's cultural committee and president of Taif University Abdulilah Banajah said apart from the main symposium on the poetry of Al-A'sha Al-Kabir, there will be a symposium on contemporary Saudi poet Hussein Sarhan. Four specialists in poetry from within the Kingdom and outside will deal with the poetry of Al-A'sha. Banajah said the specialists will also shed light on ancient Arab heritage in the symposium. Six intellectuals will discuss some of Sarhan's works and review his poetic experience. Among the activities approved by the cultural committee that will continue on an annual basis is the symposium on Arabic language in the world. This year's edition is entitled “The Arabic language in China” and includes participants such as professor Khaleel Lu Lin, an academic in China. The symposium aims to benefit from the experience of Far East academics who are specialists in the Arabic language. Meanwhile, Prince Khaled has concluded his meetings with directors of government authorities and sectors in the region. The meetings aimed to build constructive, measurable plans to be carried out from Nov. 5, the first day of the new Islamic year. During a meeting held in his Jeddah office and attended by officials of sectors concerned with building skills, Prince Khaled said the region's long-term strategy began with a 10-year development project laid down by officials and citizens in the region.
