By IINA
Jeddah : A Senegalese cultural week will be organized soon in Saudi Arabia, according to Souleymane Thiam, consul general of Senegal in Jeddah, said. “This will provide an opportunity for Saudis to discover and admire the various facets of Senegalese culture,” he said while speaking at a reception hosted by him to mark the 48th anniversary of the country’s National Day at the InterContinental Hotel here on Saturday night. A large number of officials, diplomats and businessmen were present, Arab News reported. Muhammad Ahmad Tayyeb, director general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Makkah Region, who was the chief guest, said that both countries had strong relations and were committed to forging friendship and brotherhood.
“Relations between the two countries remain strong and our cultural cooperation is vibrant,” the consul general said and mentioned that a number of Senegalese students are studying in Makkah, Madinah and Riyadh educational institutions and universities. “What is more, our lecturers are offering training at various institutes in Dammam,” he added. “A dozen Senegalese Arabic high school students undertook a tour of the Kingdom last month at the invitation of the Ministry of Education, which signifies that bilaterally we enjoy the highest level of cooperation,” the consul general said. Also, thousands of Senegalese pilgrims perform Umrah and Haj every year, he added.
Thiam thanked the Ministry of Education for facilitating the establishment of a Senegalese international school, where Senegalese and other African children are enrolled. “The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) is also a proof of the vitality of this special cooperation,” he said and referred to the resounding success of the 11th OIC Summit in Dakar recently. “Senegal, the country of Teranga, thus had the honor to host the OIC Summit for the second time in 17 years,” Thiam said. He mentioned that the Senegalese Parliament ratified the recently reviewed innovative and pertinent charter, dubbed the Dakar Charter, last month-end. “The Dakar Declaration and the Sudan-Chad Peace Agreement will always be remembered as acts that contributed significantly to the success of the 11th OIC Summit,” Thiam added.