Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Shanghai

September 23rd marks the unification of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by its founder King Abdulaziz Al Saud and the beginning of the journey of development and growth of the land of the Two Holy Mosques, Makkah Al-Mukarramah and Al-Madinah AL-Munawwarah.

Saudi Arabia is one of today’s biggest oil producers and one of the most important international players. Over the years, the Kingdom has succeeded in growing its industry and business partnerships with other nations; it has succeeded in playing a significant role in the political and diplomatic arena but more important, Saudi Arabia has succeeded in embracing development while preserving its very own culture and traditions and its Arab and Islamic identity.

On Thursday, 15 Shawwal 1431, which falls on 23 September 2010, the Pavilion of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia celebrated its National Day with high-ranking delegations from Saudi Arabia, China, and other brotherly Muslim and friendly foreign countries.

The Saudi National Day auspiciously coincides with other significant occasions, such as the Chinese Mid-Autumn festival, one of the major cultural happenings in the Chinese calendar. It also comes on a year that witnessed the 20^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the People’s Republic of China, which was also the day when the Expo broke its attendance record. It reached 630,000 for the first time.

The delegation from Saudi Arabia was headed by His Royal Highness Prince Dr. Mansour bin Mit’eb bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs, and included His Excellency Mr. Yahya Al Zaid, Saudi Ambassador to China, Dr. Abdulrahman bin Hasan Al Shaikh, Deputy Minister for Town Planning and Commissionner General of the Saudi Pavilion, Dr. Yousef Al-Saadoun, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Economic and Cultural Affairs, Dr. Mohammad bin Said Al-Ghamdi, Project Director of the Saudi Expo 2010 Commission, and Mr. Abdulhamid Hasan, the Pavilion Director, amongst other dignitaries. From the Chinese side, an official delegation was headed by Mr. Zhou Han Min, Vice Director General of Expo Shanghai 2010 Executive Committee.

The National Pavilion Day started with a morning ceremony at the Expo Cultural Center, attended by both delegations and a large number of media representatives. After the Saudi national anthem was played, the heads of the delegations exchanged gifts and signed the honorary guestbook, and both the Saudi and Chinese heads of delegation delivered a ceremonial speech. This formal ceremony was followed by a cultural show by the Saudi Arabian Pavilion’s folkloric group. Both delegations then visited first the China Pavilion, which impressed the Saudi officials with its architecture and display, and the Saudi Pavilion. Specially decorated for the occasion, the Saudi Pavilion was vibrant with the music from the Folkloric Group when the delegations arrived. They toured in the moon-boat shaped pavilion before enjoying Saudi hospitality, being served dates and Arabic coffee.

After the visit, Mr. Zhou Han Min, Head of the Chinese delegation wrote in the guest book: “Saudi Arabia Pavilion is a great example of your people’s hard work and continuous efforts. It is also a vivid proof of the friendship between the people of our two countries. We wish to extend our highest respect for the people of Saudi Arabia”

In the evening, the Saudi Folkloric Group organized a Saudi parade to celebrate the national day, which was watched by tens of thousands of Expo visitors who lined the streets in the parade area. The performance received enthusiastic applause from the admiring crowds.

And at night, the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in China hosted a private reception in the “Arabian Oasis” on the rooftop of the Saudi Pavilion to celebrate the National Day, attended by H.R.H. Prince Dr. Mansour bin Mit’eb bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs, along with Saudi, Arab, and foreign VIP guests including members of the foreign diplomatic corps in China and the national pavilions in the Shanghai Expo 2010.

His Excellency the Ambassador, Mr. Yahya Al Zaid, welcomed the guests and thanked the People’s Republic of China for their long lasting cooperation and friendship, and the Saudi Folkloric Group presented a performance with Chinese dancers and musicians and continued playing and singing for the guests until the end of the reception.

Saudi Arabia National Day witnessed several other events as well. The Commission of Saudi Expo 2010 organized the screening of a 3D IMAX movie and another 2D IMAX movie in a theatre specializing with IMAX technology. The former film is titled “Arabian Peninsula in 3D”, was produced by Zainal, and will see its world premier in Shanghai, and the latter is titled “Journey to Makkah”. Both movies will tour IMAX theatres all around the country.

The Commission also coordinated another activity, namely the exhibition “Nabatt – A Sense of Being”, which features Saudi contemporary art by 23 artists. The exhibition is held at one of the best-known art venues in China, and is the first of its kind in the People’s Republic of China.