Egypt's Mufti Shawki Allam called Thursday for holding a dialogue with youths to get familiar with their thoughts and interests.
Speaking at a forum organized by the Youth and Sports Ministry, Allam said such dialogues were the best way to uproot extremism.
Present at the meeting were Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria and Patriarch of St. Mark Diocese, Minister of Youth Khaled Abdul-Aziz, Minister of Electricity Mohamad Shaker, Minister of Social Solidarity Ghada Wali, representatives from al-Azhar and political parties, and 500 youths from different provinces.
The Mufti stressed the important role played by the youths to achieve Egypt's renaissance, hailing them as a "strategic treasure."
For his part, Pope Tawadros II said the government was interested in youths' activities, highlighting the orthodox church's cooperation with the Youth and Sports Ministry to carry out programs for them.