PARIS: Arab News en français was honored for bridging communication gaps between Saudi Arabia and France at a recent ceremony. The Saudi Ambassador to France, Fahad Al-Ruawaily, participated in the event celebrating four years since the launch of the French edition of Arab News and reiterated the strength of Saudi-French relations particularly after Vision Golfe 2024. “Regarding Franco-Saudi relations, surely the cooperation between our two countries, Saudi Arabia and France is excellent and closer than ever. Our relations are strengthening in all areas, political, economic and cultural,” said the Saudi Ambassador. In an event which saw diplomats, senators, CEOs and intellectuals in attendance, Arab News was presented with a senatorial commemorative medal in recognition of its efforts in sharing the voice of the Arab and the francophone world. The medal was presented by both senator Nathalie Goulet and Al-Ruwaily. Speaking to the audience, senator Nathalie Goulet said: “While we are fighting for the francophonie, Saudi Arabia is offering us a gift, a tool, which is Arab News en français.” Ambassador RuwaiIy congratulated Arab News in his speech, on the French edition’s fourth anniversary and the English edition’s upcoming fiftieth, describing it as “one of our best newspapers.” In his speech, Editor-in-Chief Faisal Abbas talked about the challenges journalists and other media face inside their companies and outside such allocating resources to different conflicts. “In two weeks, we celebrate the fourth anniversary of Arab News en français and in six months we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Arab News, the first English language newspaper in the Arab World,” said Abbas. (…) It has been a difficult eight months in the region. But that also gives you the importance or the significance of having credible journalism, having a voice of moderation especially in a French edition,” said Abbas. From the iconic French venue, Abbas quoted Napoleon’s “impossible is only a word that exists in the Dictionary of Fools” in reference to the Kingdom’s transformation over the last eight years. “We went from 9% women participation in the workforce to over 36%, the target set for 2030. In eight years, we went from having almost no rights to women driving, which is the tip of the iceberg. To eight female ambassadors around the world, to the first Arab female Muslim astronaut that went out of space and talking about Rayyanah Barnawi who went out to International Space Station last year,” he added. The Arab News en français event took place on margins of the second edition of Vision Golfe. “We participated in the second edition of Gulf Vision, which symbolizes the growing and already solid cooperation between France and the Gulf countries. For Saudi Arabia, the forum was an opportunity to once again show the opportunities for development according to the roadmap, Vision 2030,” said the Saudi ambassador.