RIYADH: The 31st edition of the two-week Janadriya festival, which opened Wednesday, has impressed foreign guests and diplomats attending the opening ceremony.
Bahraini King Hamad, who attended the inaugural function of the national festival for heritage and culture along with King Salman and foreign dignitaries from friendly countries, said Janadriya sets an example to be followed at the cultural level in the Gulf and Arab regions.
King Hamad expressed his pleasure at attending the festival, in which hundreds of foreign thinkers, poets and writers meet their Saudi counterparts and enrich the cultural and literary arenas.
He also praised the diverse intellectual and cultural activities expressing Saudi history, prosperity, and Arab Gulf civil identity.
Events and activities include folklore arts, operetta and camel races. The festival is organized by the Ministry of National Guard and named after the heritage village on the outskirts of Riyadh, where it is held annually to celebrate symbols of Saudi identity.
Egypt is the guest-of-honor country this year. Its Culture Minister Hilmi Al-Nimnim, who is leading the Egyptian delegation at the festival, said this reflects the depth of relations between the two countries.
He expressed his pleasure at attending as guest of honor, and applauded the successful continuation of the festival year after year.
Chinese Ambassador Li Huaxin, whose country was a previous guest of honor, said: “I am really pleased to attend this important festival with my family, which gave us a clearer picture of the Kingdom’s developments in all fields. It is indeed a portrayal of the Kingdom’s rich heritage and cultural.”
Belgian Ambassador Geert Criel said: “I was honored to attend the opening ceremony of the Janadriya festival in the presence of King Salman.”
The festival “is a wonderful celebration of the rich heritage and impressive achievements of the Kingdom,” the envoy added. “I very much look forward to visiting the various pavilions, including the one of Egypt.”
Indian Ambassador Ahmad Javed said: “It is a grand heritage and cultural show with a beautiful setting. The opening ceremony was absolutely fascinating because of the elaborate arrangements made to entertain all groups of people.”
Pakistani Ambassador Manzoor Ul Haq said: “It is fascinating to see the rich history and cultural heritage of the Kingdom. One of the main attractions was the grand camel race.”
The envoy added that Pakistan, with its own rich history and culture, looks forward to further strengthening cultural cooperation with Saudi Arabia.
“Culture and sports are a good medium to promote friendship and harmony between nations of the world,” he said.
Sri Lankan Ambassador Azmi Thassim said it was a comprehensive cultural event showcasing rapid developments in the Kingdom.
“We are happy that this annual heritage and culture festival provides a good platform for foreign diplomats to share the Kingdom’s experiences,” he added.
Norwegian Ambassador Rolf Willy Hansen said: “Visiting the Janadriya festival is an interesting expedition, besides being a good experience, since it is located away from the hustle and bustle of the city.”