Islamabad, January 23, 2019, SPA -- Pakistani President Arif Alvi has decorated Chief of General Staff of Saudi Armed Forces, General Fayyadh bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili, with the Military Medal of Excellency in recognition of his efforts to promote bilateral relations between the two countries. The ceremony was held at the Presidential Palace in Islamabad in the presence of the Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff of Pakistani Armed Forces General Zubair Mahmood Hayat and a number of senior government and military officials. The Pakistani president commended his country's relations with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, pointing out that they have brotherly relations deep-rooted in history and based on common religious and cultural values and mutual trust. He stressed Pakistan's keenness to strengthen cooperation with the Kingdom in all fields, expressing satisfaction with the level of defense cooperation existing between the two countries. He called for joint efforts to promote further cooperation between the two countries in the field of military industrialization. For his part, General Al-Ruwaili thanked the President and the Government of Pakistan for granting him the military medal, expressing hope that the brotherly relations between the two countries will witness further growth and progress. -- SPA 15:59 LOCAL TIME 12:59 GMT 0009 www.spa.gov.sa/w825028