A number of speakers delivered speeches focusing on the theme of the conference. A ceremony for handing the chairmanship of the current session of the conference was held before the start of the conference as Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Adel bin Zaid Al-Toraifi, the chairman of the eighth session of the Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers, handed the chairmanship to Sayyid Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, the Omani culture minister, and wished him every success. In his speech, the Omani minister hailed the kingdom's hosting of the eighth session and thanked Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Adel bin Zaid Al-Toraifi, the chairman of the eighth session of the Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers, for his efforts for the conference. --SPA 23:45 LOCAL TIME 20:45 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w