JEDDAH: Local officials, businessmen and French nationals were present in large numbers at a celebration to mark the Bastille Day, the national holiday of France, at French Consul General Christian Nakhle’s residence Tuesday night.
Muhammad A. Tayeb, regional director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, acknowledged the age-old ties between the two countries that the French consul general had referred to in his welcome address. Saudi Arabia and France have been linked in a strategic partnership that reflects the importance of the relationship between the two countries, Tayeb said in both Arabic and French. France, especially Paris, remains one of the most popular destinations for Saudi vacationers.
Bilateral relations got a tremendous boost following the visit by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to Paris in June 2007, followed by President Nicolas Sarkozy’s visit to Riyadh in January 2008.
“We established our presence 170 years ago and that shows how strong our link is to the region in general and the Kingdom in particular,” he said, adding that France was one of the first countries that established diplomatic ties with Saudi Arabia, in 1926. “Since then our relations have remained very close. And that is evidenced by the high level visits the two countries exchanged in the recent past,” he said.
He told the local business community to take advantage of the commercial and trade information available and further strengthen the ties. “The consulate doors are always open for you,” he added.
