HONORED: Philippine Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo confers his country’s top medal on Saudi Ambassador to Manila Muhammad Ameen Wali. (AN photo)

MANILA: Saudi Ambassador to Manila Muhammad Ameen Wali has received the Philippines’ highest medal in recognition of his efforts in strengthening Saudi-Philippine relations. He was also given the title of Datu under a directive from President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Philippine Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo decorated the Saudi ambassador with the Philippines’ Medal of the First Order, and highlighted the strong relations between the two countries.

Earlier, Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo received Wali in her office. The ambassador, whose posting in Manila ends shortly, conveyed the greetings of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to the president. He also conveyed the condolences of the Saudi government and people to Arroyo over the deaths and destruction caused by recent torrential floods in the Philippines.

Wali thanked the president for the facilities provided by her government in order for him to carry out his official duties effectively. “I have received the same support from all government officials who have always wanted to strengthen Saudi-Philippine ties,” he added.

President Arroyo thanked the Saudi government for assisting flood victims. She also thanked Saudi Arabia for taking care of more than a million Filipino workers in the country.

Arroyo also spoke about her recent visit to Saudi Arabia when she met King Abdullah and participated in the opening of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Thuwal, 80 km northwest of Jeddah.

The president told Wali that KAUST would bring about qualitative changes in scientific education and research, and that people all over the world would benefit from its contributions.

Arroyo expressed her delight at six Filipino students winning admission to KAUST, which is an international coeducational research university. She also expressed her appreciation of the tremendous efforts made by Wali as Saudi ambassador to the Philippines.