The US Consulate is hosting in Taif the second American–Saudi Arabian Culture and Commerce Festival, under the sponsorship of Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah region, and in partnership with the governorate of Taif, the Taif Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities. The festival was inaugurated on Sunday at Taif's InterContinental Hotel with the US Consul General Martin R. Quinn attending the event and warmly thanking the Emir in particular for inspiring the first festival which was held in Abha in 2007, and for providing support for this one. “This festival...allows us to draw attention to the cultural and commercial ties between our two countries, and that is something we can all be proud of,” Quinn remarked, during his speech. “This festival exemplifies how constructive the relationship between our two countries can be when we come together to share ideas.” “When I see the many ways in which the United States and Saudi Arabia are working together today in the Kingdom's Western region – and this festival is a perfect example – I feel certain that the future of our friendship is brighter than ever,” he added. He also praised efforts to provide Saudi youth with more skills and opportunities for development than ever before, and commented on the educational exchange between both countries. “When young Saudi men and women study at colleges and universities in the US, they discover the American people and culture. At the same time, the very students provide Americans an opportunity to discover Saudi Arabia, its history and its people. This builds trust and understanding,” he said.
