1. The Saudi government has invited Korea as guest of honor to its Janadriyah Festival, scheduled to be held in Janadriyah from February 9 through 26, 2012.

o The Janadriyah Festival is the largest cultural festival in the Arab world. Under the direct supervision of Saudi King Abdullah, the annual festival draws some 8 million Saudi and foreign nationals. Every year since 2008 a different country has been invited as the guest of honor to the festival (Turkey in 2008, Russia in 2009, France in 2010, and Japan in 2011).

2. In consideration that Saudi Arabia is its strategically important partner in the Middle East and that 2012 marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations, the Korean government plans to actively participate in the festival as guest of honor and exhibit a variety of Korea’s impressive cultural features with a bid to fostering solidarity between the peoples of the two nations. 

Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations of MOFAT

* unofficial translation