King Fahd Forum for Saudi Universities of South East Asian graduates, organized by the Riyadh-based Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University, was opened here on Saturday in the presence of Saudi Minister of Justice, Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Al-Sheikh, and Minister of Higher Education, Dr. Khalid bin Mohammed Al-Anqari.

In a speech before the gathering, the Rector of Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University, Dr. Mohammed bin Saad Al-Salim, welcomed the attendees, stressing that the Forum aims at extending bridges of amicability and cooperation among Muslims, strengthening Islamic relations, getting acquainted with their needs, notably of those who have studied at universities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Dr. Al-Anqari told the gathering that more than 3,000 sons of Muslims all over the world have graduated from Saudi universities.

He conveyed to the attendees of the Forum the greetings and best wishes of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz, his Crown Prince and Second Deputy Premier for the success of the Forum in achieving its goals.

He said the Saudi universities, upon instructions from the Saudi prudent leadership, have offered precious opportunities for the sons of Muslims all over the world to undertake their university and post-graduate studies in them: "These universities were keen to offer more and more scholarships to Muslims from all Islamic countries, as well as Islamic communities, a practice yielding a large number of Muslim graduates, exceeding 30,000 from different countries," the Minister said.

He added that the Saudi universities were organizing religious, Arabic language and educational courses in different parts of the world for the sons of Muslims there.

The Minister said the Forum, the first of its kind, was aiming to strengthen ties between Saudi universities and their graduates in different fields and to look for new potentials of cooperation and enhance scientific ties with its graduates, including solving the problems that might face them during their residence abroad.

He thanked the Malaysian government for the facilities it provided to the organizers of the Forum. The opening ceremony was also attended by the Saudi ambassador to Malaysia, Hamid bin Muhammad Yahya, senior university professors from Saudi universities and educational institutions in Malaysia and a number of Arab and Islamic ambassadors accredited to Malaysia.

Source: SPA