Saudi defense minister meets French President Macron

Photos: (X/@kbsalsaud)
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Updated 21 December 2023
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Saudi defense minister meets French President Macron

RIYADH: Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman met with French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday.

During the meeting the pair discussed bilateral relations between France and the Kingdom.

“Upon the directives of HRH the Crown Prince, I met with Emmanuel Macron,”  Prince Khalid posted on social media. “I had the honor of conveying the greetings of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister. We also reviewed our bilateral relations.”

The meeting was attended by senior Saudi and French officials.

Earlier, Prince Khalid toured the frigate Chevalier Paul with Sébastien Lecornu, the French armed forces minister.

“I had the opportunity to watch an air defense exercise involving Rafale aircraft. I also explored the frigate’s defense capabilities and advanced technologies and equipment,” he posted on X.

“It was great to have you on board, to witness together the French army expertise, world class equipment and leadership. Thank you for joining us,” Lecornu responded to Prince Khalid on social media.

 


Saudi Arabia celebrates Flag Day with displays, special events

Updated 7 sec ago
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Saudi Arabia celebrates Flag Day with displays, special events

  • Nation goes green in show of unity, belonging
  • Current design of the flag, which represents unity and sovereignty, was adopted in 1937

RIYADH: A new art exhibition has opened at King Abdulaziz Public Library in Riyadh, as the country celebrates Flag Day, which fell on Wednesday.

The event, titled “In Love with Green,” is being held in collaboration with the Saudi Art Association and features 20 fine art paintings inspired by the Saudi flag, as well as other cultural and contemporary images and landmarks.

The current design of the flag, which represents unity and sovereignty, was adopted in 1937. It features the Shahada and a sword symbolizing justice and safety, representing the unification of the Kingdom during the reign of King Abdulaziz Al-Saud.

The exhibition, at the library’s services branch and reading halls on Khurais Road, was opened by the library’s Director General Bandar Al-Mubarak and the association’s board chair Hanaa Al-Shibly.

Visitors can attend from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Elsewhere in the country, public spaces and buildings have become a sea of green for Flag Day.

In Al-Baha, government buildings, squares and main roads were decorated with green lighting and national flags were hoisted in public squares.

It was a similar picture in Makkah, where people celebrated the annual show of pride and belonging against a green backdrop.

In Tabuk, authorities installed more than 7,000 flags along roads, squares and bridges, while the region’s landmarks and tunnels were illuminated with green and white lights.

More than 10,000 Saudi flags were also hoisted in Jazan, where Souk Al-Awalin in Jazan City is set to host a range of events and performances to mark the special occasion.