Mohammed Alshoaiby Saudi Gazette RIYADH — The US Embassy in Riyadh celebrated their National Day this week at a ceremony held at US Ambassador Dr. Joseph W. Westphal's residence, lauding higher education partnership with the Kingdom. The US National Day on July 4 marks America's Declaration of Independence from Great Britain 283 years ago. Here in the Kingdom, the US embassy has pushed forward these celebrations, as the outdoor ceremony would prove difficult under the scorching July sun. Ambassador Westphal welcomed Prince Khaled Bin Bandar, Emir of Riyadh, at the ceremony held under the banner of the United States and Saudi Arabia's partnerships in higher education. The United States currently hosts over 80,000 students — more than half the total number of Saudi students studying abroad. On US relationship with Saudi Arabia, Ambassador Westphal said: “With every meeting our friendship has grown stronger, our relationship is more resilient and the bond between our people stronger. “This is one of our closest and most valued relationships in the region and indeed in the world. “These linkages [in education] are important, and they show the depth of the relationship between our two countries.” As Ambassador Westphal reminded the particants, Saudi citizens have been seeking education in the United States since the 1950s, and from 2005 the number of Saudi students studying in America has gone from roughly 3,500 to approximately 83,000. More than 80 institutions in the US have partnerships in place with Saudi universities, making cooperation in higher education between the two nations a regional standard that benefits both economies. “I believe there can be no stronger connection between nations than sharing knowledge and transferring that knowledge to the betterment of society,” said Ambassador Westphal.
