AlQa'dah 7, 1433, Sep 23, 2012, SPA - U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia James B. Smith has congratulated the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, the Vice Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz and the people of the Kingdom on its 82nd national day. In a press statement published today, on behalf of the US government and the people of the United States, the ambassador extended warm greetings to the Kingdom's leadership and people and reaffirmed that the United States value Saudi Arabia as a close friend and ally. "Cooperation between the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia spans many decades and many fields, and the United States takes pride in the cooperation between our two countries. It ranges from trade to education, science, technology, health and humanitarian fields," he stressed. Of special importance, the ambassador said "We want to put a new emphasis on student exchanges and educational partnerships. I know this is something close to King Abdullah's heart. On this occasion, I salute King Abdullah's initiative to invest in Saudi youth through the King Abdullah Scholarship Program, which has sent more than 100,000 Saudi students to study overseas. We are honored that more than half of those students have chosen to study in the United States." "I also laud the King's leadership on the many initiatives he has taken both on the local and international scenes. His establishment of the King Abdul Aziz Center for National Dialogue has promoted a culture of dialogue, moderation, and tolerance. These positive initiatives have cemented the unity of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and put the country and the region on a path toward a stronger, more prosperous, and more secure future. As we join you in celebrating this special day, we reaffirm the commitment of the United States to broadening and deepening our partnership with Saudi Arabia in the years to come. We wish you a safe and joyous National Day," ambassador James Smith said.
