Cairo, Oct. 29 (Petra) -- Jordan took part in the Arab Youth Council for Integrated Development Conference, held in Cairo to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the founding of the League of Arab States.

The event, organized under the patronage of the League of Arab States and the Egyptian Ministry of Youth and Sports, was convened from October 26 to 30 under the theme "Civil Society and Arab Youth: Partners in Facing Challenges." Representatives from 22 Arab countries attended the conference.

Jordan’s delegation was headed by Omar Obaidat, Chairman of the Arab Committee for Student Activities, and included Dr. Khetam Al-Abbadi, the committee’s secretary-general; members Saqr Al-Laymoon and Mohammad Al-Huneiti; Hala Al-Majali, Jordan’s representative in the council’s executive office; and Dr. Anahid Al-Hindawi, committee rapporteur.

In his opening remarks, Obaidat underscored the importance of collective Arab action in addressing regional challenges. He highlighted Jordan’s pivotal role, under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II, in championing Arab causes, particularly the Palestinian issue, and reaffirmed the Hashemite Custodianship over Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.

Hala Al-Majali led the opening ceremony, while Dr. Al-Abbadi conducted a seminar at the League of Arab States headquarters discussing national identity and active citizenship as foundational principles for sustainable Arab cooperation. She emphasized the need to strengthen values of belonging and responsibility among Arab youth.

Dr. Al-Hindawi chaired a session titled "The Impact of Education and Social Values on Youth in the Age of Transformation and Artificial Intelligence," and Al-Huneiti moderated another session addressing cybersecurity, ideological extremism, artificial intelligence, and entrepreneurship.

Concluding the second day’s sessions, Al-Laymoon stressed the importance of enhancing Arab solidarity and unifying regional efforts, commending Jordan’s continued leadership in promoting cooperation and shared values among Arab nations.

The conference also featured an Arab Heritage Exhibition, where the Jordanian pavilion drew significant attention for its cultural richness and strong representation from committee members and the Jordanian community in Cairo, reflecting a deep sense of national pride and identity.

The event underscored the spirit of Arab cooperation, celebrating the League of Arab States’ achievements in advancing Arab causes both regionally and globally. It also highlighted the Arab Youth Council for Integrated Development as a model for effective collaboration with the League’s General Secretariat in empowering youth and fostering constructive initiatives that promote their active engagement in development.

Discussions throughout the conference focused on strengthening ties between civil society organizations and Arab youth, encouraging dialogue on shared challenges, and developing innovative solutions to enhance cooperation across key sectors. Participants presented proposals addressing critical issues such as education, technology, green economy, health, unemployment, entrepreneurship, and social values.

//Petra// RZ