Secretary-General Seyed Ali Mohammad Mousavi visited Mohammad Azam, Additional Secretary of Information‚ Broadcasting and National Heritage and exchanged views regarding the establishment of a D-8 News Agency Association and setting up joint cultural activities between member countries. 

Secretary-General Mousavi proposed the establishment of D-8 News Agency Association consisting of media agencies from the eight member countries. “Cooperation can be in the form of exchange of news articles, news products or technology to produce news,” he said during his visit.

Mr. Mousavi noted that cooperation between news agencies is significant in order to present first hand information about one country to the other member countries. “We are planning to hold a meeting between D-8 News Agencies on the sideline of next D-8 Summit in Istanbul” he added. 

Meanwhile Additional Secretary, Mr. Azam expressed his support towards the proposal to establish News Agency`s Association among D-8 members. “We have already signed MoUs and have excellent relations with news agencies from Turkey (AA Anadolu Agency) Iran (IRNA news agency) and Malaysia (Bernama news agency) and Indonesia (ANTARA). We are looking forward to cooperate with other news agencies from D-8 member countries,” he said.

Secretary-General Mousavi added that D-8 organization is very active in tapping five areas on priority basis including trade and industry‚ agriculture‚ energy‚ transportation. He also expressed that D-8 is looking forward to enhance cooperation in cultural activities, tourism and high education. D-8 will hold a Film Festival in Istanbul on 20-27 September 2013.

Prior to the meeting‚ Secretary-General Mousavi visited Pakistan National Council of Arts and had the opportunity to see various galleries displaying the paintings and sculptures of Pakistani artists. He appreciated the calligraphic and sculpture work of the artists.