Riyadh Season brings taste of Orient to Saudi capital

Riyadh Season brings taste of Orient to Saudi capital
1 / 3
Boulevard World entertainment site is showcasing China’s rich culture through food, merchandise, art, and architecture. (Supplied)
Riyadh Season brings taste of Orient to Saudi capital
2 / 3
(Supplied)
Riyadh Season brings taste of Orient to Saudi capital
3 / 3
(Supplied)
Short Url
Updated 15 December 2022

Riyadh Season brings taste of Orient to Saudi capital

Riyadh Season brings taste of Orient to Saudi capital

RIYADH: Visitors to the Saudi capital have been sampling a taste of the Orient at a Chinese-themed zone set up as part of the Riyadh Season of activities.

The dedicated area at the city’s Boulevard World entertainment site is showcasing China’s rich culture through food, merchandise, art, and architecture.

Lendrick Scott was displaying his paper cartoon artwork at the event.

He told Arab News: “This is a symbol of good luck for Chinese and in the spring festival we put them in windows to bring good luck for parents, children, and others.”

The zone’s food corner offers items such as fried noodles and savories, along with restaurants serving a range of Chinese dishes, and there are shops containing Chinese paintings, calligraphy, writings, art, musical instruments, and pottery.

Salman Al-Ajmi, a Saudi expert on Chinese history working at one of the gift stores, said: “Most of the visitors don’t know much about Chinese culture or history. But when they see how proud the Chinese are about their traditions, like us Saudis are with ours, they appreciate it.”

Candles, traditional fans, and small umbrellas for women, are among products available from the shop.

Mohammed Al-Fardan, who was visiting the zone with his family, said: “It is nice to watch the traditional performances by groups who have come from China.”

Visitors can experience drinking tea in a traditional Chinese garden seating area while learning about different leaf varieties and their therapeutic uses.


Saudi crown prince, Iraqi PM discuss cooperation

Saudi crown prince, Iraqi PM discuss cooperation
Updated 4 min 43 sec ago

Saudi crown prince, Iraqi PM discuss cooperation

Saudi crown prince, Iraqi PM discuss cooperation

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia' Al-Sudani, have discussed ways to enhance bilateral strategic cooperation and partnership within the Saudi-Iraqi Coordination Council.

The officials also reviewed issues of mutual interest, the Saudi Press Agency reported early Tuesday.


Saudi Arabia’s wizkids of the future offered expertise on the appliance of science

Several short academic, international and research courses will teach budding scientists practical skills. (SPA)
Several short academic, international and research courses will teach budding scientists practical skills. (SPA)
Updated 39 min 22 sec ago

Saudi Arabia’s wizkids of the future offered expertise on the appliance of science

Several short academic, international and research courses will teach budding scientists practical skills. (SPA)
  • Mawhiba foundation has 12,000 places on programs designed to guide gifted students on career path

RIYADH: Thousands of students are being given the chance to find their inner boffin and get to grips with ethical and social issues of science research on programs by the Mawhiba foundation.

The foundation, also known as the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity, has opened registration for several short academic, international and research “enrichment” courses that teach budding scientists practical skills and help them find a future path.

Mawhiba says on its website that the programs are open to “gifted and talented students of both genders” from across the Kingdom, and are intended as a first step to helping them “identify their skills and potentials” and prepare them for more advanced foundation schemes.

Taking part also increases the opportunity to obtain scholarships offered by the Ministry of Education, it said.

The foundation said that the academic enrichment course aims to enhance a student’s “personal and social skills… improve their competence and readiness, build their scientific and practical expertise and challenge their abilities.”

HIGHLIGHT

The academic enrichment course aims to enhance a student’s personal and social skills ... improve their competence and readiness, build their scientific and practical expertise and challenge their abilities. The research program teaches scientific research ethics, deals with issues surrounding intellectual property rights and sets students on a path to their preferred field of expertise.

The research enrichment program teaches scientific research ethics, deals with issues surrounding intellectual property rights and sets students on a path to their preferred field of expertise.

It said the programs use “instructors and academics who have undergone continuous training courses and advanced programs that keep pace with the best technologies and scientific discoveries.”

In-person courses will take place in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Dhahran and Al-Ahsa and will be complemented by virtual courses open to students across the Kingdom.

Registration is open until June 13. Courses begin towards the end of July and finish mid-August. Mawhiba said that there are a total of around 12,000 places on its courses.

 


Deal signed to promote cultural activities in Jeddah

Deal signed to promote cultural activities in Jeddah
Updated 27 March 2023

Deal signed to promote cultural activities in Jeddah

Deal signed to promote cultural activities in Jeddah
  • The initiative aims to run a series of cultural, intellectual, and training events in Al-Balad for young people while helping support and develop youth talent

JEDDAH: Officials from the Jeddah Literary Cultural Club and Al-Hijaz Cultural House in the city’s historic Al-Balad district recently signed a cooperation agreement to promote cultural programs.

The initiative aims to run a series of cultural, intellectual, and training events in Al-Balad for young people while helping support and develop youth talent.

Club chairman, Abdullah Al-Sulami, said one of the main provisions of the deal was to establish cultural and social activities, adding that the community partnership was a requirement for everyone “who plays a constructive role in thinking and caring for young men and women, developing their talents, and presenting them to a conscious and promising society.”

Al-Hijaz Cultural House manager, Mohammed Al-Hasani, said the link-up with the club would be managed by the Abqar Poetry Hub which offers monthly activities including poetry evenings and workshops for young talents supervised by poet and journalist Abdulaziz Al-Sharif.

 


Belarusian FM backs Saudi Expo 2030 bid

Abdulrahman Suleiman Al-Ahmad, who is also the Kingdom’s ambassador to Russia, spoke with Foreign Minister Sergey Aleinik
Abdulrahman Suleiman Al-Ahmad, who is also the Kingdom’s ambassador to Russia, spoke with Foreign Minister Sergey Aleinik
Updated 27 March 2023

Belarusian FM backs Saudi Expo 2030 bid

Abdulrahman Suleiman Al-Ahmad, who is also the Kingdom’s ambassador to Russia, spoke with Foreign Minister Sergey Aleinik
  • The host country for the Expo 2030 is expected to be announced in November

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Belarus met with Minsk’s top diplomat on Tuesday last week.

Abdulrahman Suleiman Al-Ahmad, who is also the Kingdom’s ambassador to Russia, spoke with Foreign Minister Sergey Aleinik about a number of issues.

Aleinik relayed to Al-Ahmad his country’s support for Saudi Arabia’s bid to host Expo 2030. He added that Riyadh would stage the event to a “high standard” and that Minsk would contribute any assistance required in making it a success, a Belarusian Foreign Ministry statement said.

Also on the agenda were development of political dialogue, the prospects for expanding trade and economic cooperation and investment interaction between the Kingdom and Belarus.

The host country for the Expo 2030 is expected to be announced in November, Riyadh is competing with Rome, South Korea’s Busan and Ukraine’s Odessa.


Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister receives Vietnamese ambassador to KSA

Vu Viet Dung meets with Waleed Al-Khuraiji in Riyadh. (Supplied)
Vu Viet Dung meets with Waleed Al-Khuraiji in Riyadh. (Supplied)
Updated 28 March 2023

Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister receives Vietnamese ambassador to KSA

Vu Viet Dung meets with Waleed Al-Khuraiji in Riyadh. (Supplied)
  • Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif received the Portuguese and Indian ambassadors to the Kingdom

RIYADH: Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Khuraiji met the ambassador of Vietnam to the Kingdom, Vu Viet Dung, in Riyadh on Monday. During the meeting, they discussed areas of cooperation and issues of common interest.
Also on Monday, Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif received the Portuguese and Indian ambassadors to the Kingdom, Nuno Vaultier Mathias and Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan, respectively. In separate meetings held at his office in Riyadh, Prince Abdulaziz discussed issues of common interest with the envoys.