Exceptionally in comparsion with recent years, new accredited Saudi Arabia Amb. Riyad A. Almubaraky garnered attention from both Diplomatic Corps. & guests by preparing his luncheon welcome remarks in a reception to commemorate the National Day of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 2016.

Held in a luncheon format on Sep. 22nd, in a hotel Seoul, the daytime luncheon reception attracted many guests including envoys from the Middle East region such as Oman Amb. Mohamed Salim Alharthy, Qatar Amb. Mohamed Abdulla Al-Dehaimi in addition to EU Amb. Gerhard Sabathil, Russia Amb. Alexander Timonin, Denmark Amb. Thomas Lehmann, Chile Amb. Fernando Danus, Azerbaijan Amb. Ramzi Teymurov, & Ukraine Amb. Vasyl Marmazov and more.

Saudi Arabia Amb. Riyad A. Almubaraky pinpointed: "President Park Geun-hye's official visit to Saudi Arabia on March last year served as a decisive momentum for making rapid progresses in the advancement of bilateral relations between Korea & Saudi Arabia". Almubaraky was confident that on the basis of its 2030 Vision, Saudi Arabia will arrive at the better future for the peoples of Saudi Arabia.

▲ Envoys are lined up to commemorate the National Day of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with Saudi Amb. Riyad A. Almubaraky. (seventh from right, front row).

As a return address, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Lee Joon-sik replied, saying that mutual interest about culture is heightening. For one example, universities establishing Arab languages are increasing since 2005, according to Lee. He pledged to do his best as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education for the future-oriented exchange increase centering around younger generation stratum, national growth engine of the future between the two countries.

*Contribution article by H.E. Ambassador Riyad Almubaraky

The following message was contributed by H.E. Ambassador Riyad Almubaraky to the NDNnews & Seoulcity magazine on the National Day Anniversary of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. -Ed.

The occasion of the national day celebration of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia comes every year to remind us of the greatness of the efforts and sacrifice that were introduced by the Kingdom's founder His Majesty late King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud and his faithful followers who afforded every valuable and precious assets they have for the sake of our beloved Kingdom's survival and continuation. With Allah's help, the Kingdom was reunified and restored security.

Deputy Prime Minister & Education Minister Lee & Saudi Amb. Riyad A. Almubaraky (center) are ready to slice congratulating cake with envoys during the opening ceremony.

The national day anniversary comes to emphasize the firmness of rules and principles on which the Kingdom's great achievements were based. It comes also as the culmination of the process of growth, development and construction since the era of the Founder King to the era of well-being, the prosperous development that we are witnessing today under the great leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammad bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and His Royal Highness Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, where the Kingdom stands proudly, side by side with the developed countries, in

every fields. Thanks to Allah, the Kingdom enjoys blessed renaissance with more security and stability in spite of the security, economic and political challenges in the region.

▲ From right, Oman Amb. Alharthy, Saudi Amb. Riyad A.H. Almubaraky & Education Minister Lee are chatting each other at the traditional Saudi cottage, prepared separategy at the reception venue.

Such accomplishments would not have been achieved without, first: Allah bless on a country that believes on the Oneness of Allah, the Holy Quran, and His Prophet Mohammed, may peace upon Him, a country adopts Islamic constitution as a way of life. Second, thanks to the future vision of His Majesty King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, a vision seeks to achieve a comprehensive development based on the Kingdom's legitimate principles, to take advantage of the Kingdom's potentiality, its energies, and its strategic location to secure a better future for its citizens, besides adhering to the genuine Islamic faith and to preserve the genuineness of our society and its principles.

The Kingdom's "Vision 2030" policy has emerged from these fundamentals and their guiding lights to draw a brighter and glowing future.

I am also pleased on this occasion to express with pride, and praise the distinguished bilateral relationship between the two friendly countries which was established in 1962 and witnessed through history, considerable growth and development that have extended to all aspects of political, economic, cultural, military, and educational and health fields. Such developments are responsive to policies and principles stipulated in mutual agreements; memorandums of understanding signed between the two countries, and have been sustained by mutual visits by high-ranking officials from both countries.

Among such important visits was the official visit of Her Excellency President Park Geun-hye to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2015 which led to the historical summit with His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

The visit has established the foundations for new era of bilateral strategic cooperation. His Excellency Prime Minister also visited Saudi Arabia in May 2016, besides the visits of H.E. Minister of Energy and Industry and Mineral Resources of the Kingdom to the Republic of Korea in July 2016.A number of agreements and memorandums of understanding were signed to deepen the level of bilateral relations.

In the field of trade, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is one of the major trading partner to the Republic of Korea, where the Kingdom is the fourth largest trading partner to Korea, while Korea is Saudi’s fifth largest one. The trade volume between the two friendly countries has reached $30 billionand $13 billion as of July 2016.

▲ Saudi Amb. Riyad A.H. Almubaraky welcoming Greece Amb. Dionision Sourvanos.

The next stage is expected to witness more cooperation and rapprochement due the participation of Korean companies in the Kingdom's developmental plan and its "Vision 2030". Such cooperation and rapprochement would be accelerated through providing a suitable climate for expanding the role of private sector mainly in investment and to diversify its activities through policies.

It should be stated that such achievements in the history of bilateral relations would not have been materialized without the help of Allah and without the recognitions of the rational leadership of both countries with the importance of sustaining the bilateral relations.

Once again, I would like to congratulate the Kingdom's people and its Government under the wisdom and leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, hoping that peace and stability would prevail in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Korea and all over the world.