Doha:The 11th General Assembly of the Global Public Diplomacy Network (GPDNET) was held at the Cultural Village Foundation, Katara. The assembly, which took place on Monday, was opened by Katara General Manager and GPDNET President Dr. Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti, who emphasized the assembly's role in reflecting the shared vision among members to use culture, dialogue, and cooperation to strengthen international ties.

According to Qatar News Agency, Dr. Al Sulaiti remarked on the assembly's importance as an opportunity for exchanging views and enhancing public diplomacy through initiatives such as the GPDNET Academy, the Youth Mentoring Project, and digital platforms. He highlighted the focus on youth empowerment and capacity-building, urging member institutions to propose innovative projects to reinforce international presence.

The assembly marked the admittance of Uzbekistan as a new member, represented by the Center for Foreign Policy and International Initiatives Studies at the Uzbek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, increasing GPDNET's membership to 30. A memorandum of understanding was signed with Uzbekistan, aimed at supporting institutional cooperation.

GPDNET Secretary-General Maryam Majed Al Saad welcomed participants, expressing gratitude for their contributions and confidence in the network's General Secretariat. She stressed that the network's progress resulted from the collective efforts of all member institutions and highlighted Uzbekistan's addition as a means to foster greater cooperation and knowledge-sharing.

The assembly's agenda included discussions on improving GPDNET's website to enhance communication and knowledge exchange among members. Proposals were made to allow members to upload content showcasing their institutions and initiatives, enriching the platform as an international representation of the network's diversity.

Furthermore, the Youth Mentoring Project was presented, aiming to empower young individuals by leveraging the experience of specialists. The assembly also explored the Digital Projects Initiative, with several countries proposing ways to improve members' digital presence and cooperation on joint projects.

Participants of the assembly emphasized the need for continued collaboration and active involvement in future projects to advance GPDNET's mission and strengthen ties among global institutions and cultures.