Saudi, Greek Ministers of Culture Co-Chair Meeting of the Saudi-Hellenic Strategic Partnership Council

Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan and Hellenic Republic Minister of Culture Dr. Lina Mendoni yesterday co-chaired the inaugural meeting in Jeddah of the Culture Committee of the Saudi-Hellenic Strategic Partnership Council.

 Prince Badr welcomed his Greek counterpart to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, expressing hope that the visit would offer her insight into the Kingdom’s rich cultural heritage and deep-rooted historical legacy. He emphasized that the meeting aims to strengthen international cultural exchange between the two friendly countries for the mutual benefit of their peoples.

 The two ministers underscored the importance of enhancing cultural cooperation between the Kingdom and the Hellenic Republic and activating the memorandum of understanding on cultural collaboration, signed in July 2022.

 They praised the ongoing collaboration between the two nations, highlighted by Greece's participation in the second annual Saudi Crafts Week (Banan) held in Riyadh in November, as well as the participation of Greece’s Benaki Museum in the Islamic Arts Biennale 2025, currently taking place in Jeddah from January through May.

 Both ministers commended the organization of the “Saudi Cultural Week in Greece,” held last year at the Zappeion Hall in Athens, featuring a special pavilion for the “Year of the Camel 2024” initiative along with musical and theatrical performances, traditional crafts workshops, culinary arts pavilions, a calligraphy exhibition, a fashion show, Saudi film screenings, and other cultural showcases.

 Attending yesterday’s meeting from the Saudi side were Assistant Minister of Culture Rakan bin Ibrahim Al-Touq and Deputy Minister of Culture for International Relations Eng. Fahad Abdulrahman Alkanaan. From the Greek side were Ambassador to the Kingdom Alexis Konstantopoulos, cultural advisor to the minister Vassilis Chiros, and special advisor Anna-Panagiota Giotaria.