- Saudi Arabia’s Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud paid a courtesy call on Pres. Aquino at Malacañang
- He congratulated the Philippine leader of the country’s significant economic growth during the past six years
- The Saudi royal also praised Aquino for the ‘palpable transformation’ of the country’s physical infrastructure
MANILA, Philippines – Saudi Arabia’s Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud paid a courtesy call on President Benigno S. Aquino III at Malacañang Palace on Monday and congratulated the Philippine leader for the significant economic gains the country achieved during the latter’s six-year term.
Citing information from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Communications Secretary Herminio ‘Sonny’ Coloma said the Saudi royal also praised the Aquino administration for transforming the country’s physical infrastructure.
“According to (Foreign Affairs) Sec. Almendras, HRH (His Royal Highness) Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud congratulated President Aquino for the country’s pace setting economic growth achieved during the past 6 years,” Coloma said in a text message to the media.
“He [Alwaleed] also expressed admiration for the significant improvement in per capita income, the palpable transformation of the country’s physical infrastructure as well as the Filipinos’ enhanced sense of pride,” the Palace official added.
In response, Aquino thanked Prince Alwaleed for Saudi Arabia’s “continuing friendship and support for the country’s economic development,” Coloma said.
The Saudi prince, the grandson of King Abdulaziz Alsaud, was accompanied by Abdullah Bin Nasser Al Bussairy, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Philippines; Hassna Alturki, Executive Manager for International Relations Private Office of His Royal Highness; Fahad Al Otaibi, Senior Executive Assistant to His Royal Highness; and Hani Agha, Head of Travel and External Affairs.
Known for his philantrhropic work as the founder and patron of the Alwaleed Bin Talal Foundations, Alwaleed is the chairman of the Riyadh-based Kingdom Holding Company and the owner of the Middle East’s largest entertainment company Rotana.
Other Philippine officials present at the courtesy call were DTI Secretary Adrian Cristobal, Jr., DFA Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, and DFA Assistant Secretary Hjayceelyn Quintana of the Office of Middle East and African Affairs.
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