Saudi Culture Minister Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan kicked off a historic visit to Iraq accompanied by the largest delegation from the Kingdom. “In Iraq, civilizations have stories yet to be told,” he declared as he marked the start of a new phase for Saudi-Iraqi cooperation. The phase got off to a good start with the Kingdom inaugurating a new consulate in Baghdad and announcing a whopping $1 billion development loan. The Saudi minister, accompanied by Iraqi Minister of Culture and Tourism Abdul Amir Al-Hamdani, visited historic and cultural landmarks in Baghdad on Thursday. They toured several areas, including al-Mutanabbi Street, al-Qishla and the Abbasid palace. During the tour, he described Baghdad as home to many of the world’s cultural and heritage sites that have been immortalized by their historic value. Baghdad, according to the minister, is a beacon for heritage and cultural history in the Arab world. Mutanabbi Street, named after one of the Abbasid era’s most prominent poets, for example, serves as a cultural hub for intellectuals. Often referred to as the heart and soul of the Baghdad literacy and intellectual community, the street offers a wide array of notable publishing houses and prestigious libraries housing rare books and manuscripts. A statue of Abu Tayyib Al-Mutanabbi is located at the end of the street by the Tigris River. The Saudi-Iraqi Coordination Council has helped in developing relations between the two countries on all levels, Prince Badr said. He also reiterated the Saudi culture ministry’s keenness on boosting cooperation with other countries. “Touring with the Minister of Culture and Tourism of Iraq was enjoyable and I viewed history and culture that are rich in Iraq. I was honored to shake hands with good people during the visit,” the Saudi culture minister said in a tweet.