Cultural Ministers Lead Meeting of Saudi-Hellenic Strategic Partnership Council’s Culture Committee

The Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan headed the first meeting of the Cultural Committee arising from the Saudi-Hellenic Strategic Partnership Council in Jeddah today. He welcomed his Greek counterpart, Dr. Lina Mendoni, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and extended warm greetings to her and the accompanying delegation. The meeting aimed to deepen cultural exchange between the two friendly countries for their mutual benefit.

During the meeting, both sides emphasized the importance of enhancing cultural cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Greece and activating the memorandum of understanding in the field of culture, signed in July 2022. They praised the ongoing cooperation, such as Greece’s participation in the second edition of the Saudi International Crafts Week “Benan” in Riyadh in November 2024, and the participation of the Benaki Museum in the Islamic Arts Biennale 2025 held in Jeddah from January to May this year.

Prince Badr and Minister Mendoni appreciated the organization of the “Saudi Cultural Week in Greece,” held at Zappeion Hall in Athens in 2024. The event featured a special pavilion for the “Year of the Camel 2024” initiative, as well as musical and theatrical performances, traditional craft workshops, culinary arts pavilions, an Arabic calligraphy exhibition, a fashion exhibition, Saudi films, and other cultural elements.

The Saudi delegation at the meeting included Assistant Minister of Culture Rakan bin Ibrahim Al-Tuwaiq and Ministry of Culture Undersecretary for International Cultural Relations Engineer Fahad bin Abdulrahman Al-Kanaan. The Greek delegation comprised the Ambassador of the Hellenic Republic to the Kingdom, Alexis Konstantopoulos, Ministry of Culture advisor Vasilis Chiros, and Special Advisor Anapana Jiotaria.