PR93025 

PARIS, Nov. 12, 2021 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/--

- Official cultural visit by Saudi Arabia to France features a series of

successful strategic engagements, including meetings with the French Minister

of Culture and the Director-General of UNESCO

- His Highness Prince Badr addressed the UNESCO General Conference

- A new agreement signed with UNESCO further recognizes the cultural

significance of ancient AlUla, building on existing cooperation between France

and Saudi Arabia to enhance the destination.

During a week-long visit to France, His Highness Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin

Farhan Al-Saud, Saudi Minister of Culture, met with his counterpart Roselyne

Bachelot, French Minister of Culture, Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey

Azoulay, and several other French cultural leaders and institutions.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1687527/saudi_moc.jpg

Prince Badr addressed the UNESCO General Conference: "We congratulate UNESCO on

its seventy-fifth anniversary, which the Kingdom has been a part of since the

beginning as a founder member. Saudi Arabia is committed to working with

UNESCO, and its members, in the efforts to unleash the power of culture."

The day prior UNESCO and the Royal Commission for AlUla signed an agreement

that will help preserve the globally significant area, enabling it to become a

destination for heritage, nature, arts, and culture. It builds on an existing

partnership, through which over 100 French archaeologists and experts are

currently working onsite.

France and Saudi have a long history of ongoing cultural exchange. For example,

fifty years ago King Khalid helped establish the Arab World Institute in Paris.

In 2018, HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud made an official visit to

France, meeting with President Emmanuel Macron, where a significant cultural

agreement between the two countries was signed.

The Kingdom is hosting a vibrant cultural program of over 100 cultural events,

initiatives, and engagements during the coming months, including Saudi Arabia's

first art biennale, Ad-Diriyah Biennale, and first major international film

festival, the Red Sea International Film Festival, which will feature French

classics.

SOURCE: Saudi Arabia Ministry of Culture