KUALA LUMPUR- The stage is set for the convening of the Kuala Lumpur Summit (KL Summit) 2019 where the state of affairs of the Muslim ummah (community) will come under the spotlight with participants endeavouring to chart the way forward for the Islamic world.
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All eyes will be trained on proceedings at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC), the venue of the gathering that kicks off this evening and runs until Saturday.
It will be steered by Prime Minister and summit chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, known for his vocal views on issues concerning the Muslim world.
Joining him at the KLCC located in the heart of the Malaysian capital will be the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani, according to a statement from summit organisers.
Erdogan and Rouhani are already in town for the summit while Sheikh Tamim is expected to arrive tomorrow.
Indonesia will be represented by its Vice President Ma’ruf Amin and Uzbekistan by its State Advisor to the President, Rustam Kasimov.
With some 450 delegates from 56 countries of the Islamic world present, issues such as the rise of Islamophobia, the incarceration of Muslims around the globe and mass migration of Muslims due to civil wars are expected to be highlighted at the conference.
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The participants of the summit, which carries the theme ‘The Role of Development in Achieving National Sovereignty’, comprise thinkers, intellectuals, politicians and community leaders.
Discussions at the meeting will be framed by seven main thrusts, namely national development and sovereignty; integrity and good governance; culture and identity; justice and freedom; peace, security and defence; trade and investment; as well as technology and Internet governance.
In recognition of the importance of youth in the Islamic world, the summit’s inaugural youth edition – Youth KL Summit 2019 – was also held to discuss the role of youth in the development of Islamic countries.
With the theme ‘Youth Empowerment in Facing Global Challenges’, the two-day youth summit which concluded today featured dialogues on six clusters.
They aimed to strengthen the well-being of youth via the education sector, catalysing digital economy, strengthening the future of youth in politics, gig economy and sustainability, adapting to the challenges of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR 4.0), and spreading integrity and transparency in ensuring good governance.
The Youth KL Summit resolutions will be presented to the leaders of the main KL Summit event that commences tonight with a welcoming dinner.
The KL Summit is expected to receive extensive coverage with the presence of close to 800 local and international media practitioners. – BERNAMA