An organization of Muslim Filipinos in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Sunday urged President-elect Benigno Aquino III to follow the lead of the People's Republic of China and other countries in their "extraordinary relations" with the Islamic world by appointing Arabic-speaking ambassadors.

The Integrated Muslim Economic Forum (IMEF) based in the Saudi capital Riyadh, through its executive president Abdul Hannan M. Tago, cited in a letter to Aquino, who becomes the 15th President on Wednesday, June 30, the significance of language diplomacy.

In the IMEF letter provided to the Manila Bulletin, Tago said speaking the national language of a host country brings much benefits, such as boosting mutual and friendly relations.

He named as examples China and others with Arabic-speaking ambassadors in Saudi Arabia and other parts of the Arab Muslim world.

"Major countries, such as China, Japan, Malaysia and some European countries believe in using the national language of the host country as an effective diplomatic and strategic tool in developing rapport with the leaders of those countries. Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries represent typical examples of Arabic language, which can (be used) as a diplomatic weapon," said Tago.

"As a result, most of these countries are now enjoying extraordinary relations with the host country, both politically and economically, by putting their Arabic communication skills to optimum use," he said.

The IMEF congratulated Aquino for his victory in the May 10 presidential elections, at the same time citing the reason for the letter.

"Your Excellency, our representation to you is in the context of our diplomatic relations with the Arab world, with which our country has close relations...diplomacy is the art of conducting negotiations between representatives of groups or states, in which a major foreign language, such as Arabic can play a strategic role in this regard," said Tago.

Quoting the China's ambassador in Saudi Arabia stationed in Riyadh, Tago said China has six heads of mission in Arab states who finished education in Arab countries.

Majority of the staff of the Chinese embassies in these Arab states also speak Arabic, he said, adding major universities in China now offer Arabic diplomacy courses to further upgrade the capability of their mission.

"Similarly, the Malaysian ambassador to Riyadh is originally of Arab descent whose country now enjoys excellent economic and trade relations with Saudi Arabia," said Tago.

Tago said the Philippines can tap from the hundreds of Muslim Filipinos who graduated in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Libya, Syria, Jordan and the Gulf states. (Comprising the Gulf bloc are Saudi Arabia,  United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain.)

He lamented that this pool of Arabic-speaking Filipinos have not been tapped "as a tool for winning the hearts and minds of" the Arab states," except as translators, case officers, and interpreters in embassies in the Middle East.