On the occasion of the CCXII Anniversary of Mexican Independence Day and 70th Anniversary of Saudi-Mexican Diplomatic Relations established on 12th September 1952, H.E. Ambassador Aníbal Gómez-Toledo hosted a reception on September 12, 2022 at his residence in the Diplomatic Quarter.
The vibrant and festive evening was graced by Deputy Governor of Riyadh, H.R.H. Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Arabia Minister of Investment, H.E Khalid Bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih and Acting Secretary of the Foreign Ministry of Protocol Affairs, Abdulmajid Al-Samari, along with other members of the diplomatic corps and representatives of the business, academic and cultural sectors of Saudi Arabia.
The venue was decked with traditional paper cutting craft ‘papel picado’ in green, red, and white, representing the Mexican national flag colors and upbeat “música ranchera” uplifting the vibe. The evening commenced by playing the national anthems of both countries.
In his opening remarks, Ambassador Gómez-Toledo mentioned how the last 12 months have been marked by outstanding progress to deepen further and widen Mexico’s relationship with the Kingdom. “As constructive members of the international community, Mexico and Saudi Arabia share common values and a commitment to a rules-based international system. In the UN multilateral fora, we work actively on a wide range of issues, including climate change, the fight against terrorism, respect for human rights, and implementing the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development.” he added. Ambassador Gómez-Toledo also built excitement about the upcoming Qatar FIFA World Cup match on November 30 wherein Mexico will face Saudi Arabia, calling it an “epic encounter”.
He further mentioned how Mexico currently stands firmly in the global arena, with a vigorous democracy, world’s 14th largest economy, the largest Spanish speaking country that continues to be in the top seven most visited countries by international tourists. Mexican cuisine has been popular across the world for several decades and can now be experienced by the expat and local community in Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarters at ‘Don Ruben’s’ restaurant, which was Highly Commended as the Best Latin American Restaurant in the Time Out Riyadh Restaurant Awards 2022.
The highlight of this evening was a traditional folkloric ballet performance from the Veracruz region along the Gulf of Mexico called ‘Son Jorocho’ performed by AlKhobar-based Mexican expat families. The dance included graceful costumes and a unique choreography that involved stomping to the beats while balancing candles over their heads. Guests were later treated to a delectable spread of authentic Mexican cuisine.
The event shared a colorful slice of Mexican culture that every guest is bound to cherish for a long time. Here’s to celebrating the everlasting friendship between these two incredible countries.
Viva Mexico! Viva Saudi Arabia!
