Mitterrand was awarded the medal in appreciation of his efforts to enhance cultural relations between France and Saudi Arabia particularly with active French participation in this year's 25th Janadriya festival in Riyadh.

After receiving the medal, Mitterrand thanked the king for honoring him with the medal and said the medal underscored King Abdullah's call to bring the people of France and Saudi Arabia closer by boosting the cultural ties between the two countries.