In an effort to boost cooperation in international affairs, diplomatic studies and training, the Riyadh-based Institute of Diplomatic Studies (IDS), a premier institution of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Polish Institute of International Affairs (PISM) in Riyadh on Tuesday. Abdulkarim H. Al-Dekhayel, IDS general director, and Polish Ambassador Witold Smidowski signed the MoU at a brief ceremony.

"The MoU, signed by the two premier diplomatic institutes of Saudi Arabia and Poland, envisages fostering a relationship between the two parties by working out joint programs in the areas of international affairs, foreign policy and diplomatic training," said Al-Dekhayel. He pointed out that the MoU aimed to promote cooperation between the two countries in the fields of information and research on a diverse range of topics related to diplomacy, foreign policy and international affairs.

"The Saudi and the Polish sides have agreed within the framework of the MoU to develop and introduce modern methods in the field of training of specialists in the areas of foreign policy, international relations and international law," said the IDS chief.

He pointed out that a similar agreement was signed by the IDS and the Netherlands Institute of International Relations (Clingendael), another major European think-tank and diplomatic academy.

He said that these two agreements will go a long way in "establishing closer cooperation" between the IDS and these European institutes in the fields of diplomacy and training, relatively new fields in the Kingdom. The IDS chief pointed out that the IDS would learn from the diverse experience of the PISM, a leading and independent think-tank and advisory body that conducts policy-focused programs and research, in addition to being home to one of the most comprehensive specialist libraries in Central Europe.