His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, Prof. Ahmad Al-Tayyeb received today, Sunday, at Al-Azhar headquarters, His Excellency Ambassador Mark Bryson-Richardson, Ambassador of the United Kingdom in Cairo, to discuss avenues for enhancing cooperation.

The Grand Imam stressed Al-Azhar’s keenness to prepare cadres of young researchers at Al-Azhar University who possess the ability to master foreign languages, which contributes to disseminating its moderate approach and enlightened thought around the world. He noted Al-Azhar’s positive openness to various international cultural and religious institutions in order to promote the values of human coexistence and world peace.

His Eminence added that Al-Azhar Al-Sharif attaches great importance to dialogue and understanding between peoples and cultures as the best way to confront hate speech and extremism. He stressed that investing in education and building youth awareness is one of the most important tools for consolidating global stability and peace.

The British Ambassador, for his part, expressed his pleasure at meeting the Grand Imam, and his appreciation for His Eminence’s efforts in spreading the values of brotherhood and world peace. He stressed the UK's keenness to enhance cooperation with Al-Azhar Al-Sharif.

The British Ambassador noted the existing cooperation with the British Council in supporting English language education at Al-Azhar institutes, through the training of English language teachers and the organization of training courses for faculty members and teaching assistants at Al-Azhar University, in cooperation with the English Language Teaching Center at Al-Azhar.