RIYADH: The French Embassy in Riyadh celebrated Bastille Day with great zeal, holding a reception organized by Ambassador Francois Gouyette to honor French-Saudi friendship. Bastille Day is the common name in English-speaking countries for the National Day of France, which is celebrated on July 14 every year. On behalf of Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, acting governor of Riyadh , Aloush bin Fares Al-Subaie, acting assistant undersecretary of the governorate of Riyadh for security, attended the national day ceremony. Speaking at the reception, the ambassador highlighted the achievements of the past few months, saying Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to France in April was the beginning of a new era in the bilateral historical relationship. The opening of the first French Consulate in Jeddah in 1839 and the visit of the late King Faisal are testament to this friendship and the trust upon which this relationship was built. France and Saudi Arabia are determined to reinforce the strategic relationship in many fields. “I would like to express my appreciation toward the new bilateral partnership in the cultural, tourist, educational and research fields,” the envoy said, adding that the intergovernmental agreement signed for the development of the site of Madain Saleh, home of the Nabataean civilization, symbolizes this collaboration. The agreement, he said, “confirms our will to highlight the value of the Saudi culture that originates from the ancient civilizations.” The Kingdom abounds with priceless archaeological treasures and France is proud to contribute to the valorization of this great heritage, he said. On this occasion, the envoy greeted French residents and congratulated their national team on reaching the FIFA World Cup final. France won the final and the cup, beating Croatia on Sunday. The embassy made an elaborate arrangement with big screens and refreshments for people to come and watch the final.