Samar Yahya

Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — Relations between the United States and Saudi Arabia are very strong and are focused on business, education, health-care and other avenues, US Ambassador James Smith said here Sunday evening.



Thanking all guests at the annual Iftar party here organized by the US Consulate, Smith said “Ramadan is a very special experience for all of us."



Talking about US and Saudi cooperation, the ambassador noted that there were 71,000 Saudi students studying in the United States. With their families, they number make about 100,000 Saudis in the United States, he said.



American universities offering collaboration with Saudi educational institutes have increased from eight to 26, Smith said.



Dwelling on the US-Saudi trade relations, he said, business between the two countries has doubled in the last four years. There are 350 US businesses in Saudi Arabia, and each one of them has a Saudi partnership. This makes for stronger relations. In health-care, every hospital here is linked to one of the US teaching hospitals or universities. We are pleased with these strong relationships between the two countries and more pleased to have you with us tonight,” Smith concluded.



US Consul General Anne Casper, the host of the evening,  said: “During the past 10 months that I have been here, I have had the opportunity to experience the real generosity and kindness of the people of Jeddah and the Hijaz region. This is just a small opportunity to share our pleasure with you during Iftar and we thank you for being with us.



“This is my first Ramadan in the Kingdom and it is really special to me. I came to understand that the meaning of fasting is not only to stop the intake of food and drinks. It is an opportunity to explore oneself, family and friends from a spiritual view and to look and think on what is important in life.”



Ambassador Ahmad Mohammad Tayeb, Director General of Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Makkah region, and Mohyeddin Hakami, Assistant Secretary General, Jeddah Chamber of Commerce & Industry, were among the assembled guests.