At the invitation of Mr. Bilal Okudan, President of Board of Directors of the Youth Clubs Confederation, Dr. Seyed Ali Mohammad Mousavi, D-8 Secretary-General, visited the Y?ld?r?m Beyaz?t University in Ankara on 27 February 2015 as part of the external relations activities of the Organization.

The D-8 Secretary-General met Prof. Metin DO?AN, Rector of Y?ld?r?m Beyaz?t University, who welcomed him in the institution. They discussed possible cooperation in higher education, scientific research and strengthening of academic linkages between the D-8 Countries. Secretary-General Mousavi mentioned that a large number of potential scientific researchers are attending different universities in D-8 Member States. He underscored the need for advanced scientific research and active collaboration among centres of excellence within the D-8 Member States. Prof. Metin informed the Secretary-General of the history, faculty, student composition and academic programs currently pursued by the University.   

Later, Dr. Mousavi delivered a speech on the current development taking place within the D-8 Organization and also gave a background of D-8 and highlighted the role and engagement of the Organization as a prominent inter-governmental entity for economic development as envisaged by its leaders. He said that D-8 provided a good platform for promoting South-South Cooperation. He mentioned that D-8 had marked significant progress over the period of 16 years since its establishment in the areas such as industry, trade, transportation etc. and thus had contributed to the economic uplift of the people of the region. He also pointed to the fact that states are increasingly moving toward regional cooperation because of the commonalities they share and of effectiveness in cooperation.