The corporate sector has a key role to play in overcoming prejudice among nations, cultures and religions and can draw on the experiences of companies working in different countries and communities, the head of the United Nations-backed Alliance of Civilizations Forum said today.

The writings of Abu Abdullah Jafar ibn Mohammad Rudaki, the poet considered to have laid the foundations of Persian classical literature, should serve as an inspiration to international efforts to combat extremism and attempts to divide peoples and cultures, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today.

The head of the United Nations campaign for understanding between cultures, known as the Alliance of Civilizations, has visited the Organization’s New York Headquarters to discuss the initiative’s future plans with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and other world leaders.

Projects aimed at promoting understanding among cultures in the areas of media and youth were among the key initiatives launched at the United Nations-backed Alliance of Civilizations Forum, which just concluded in Madrid.