RIYADH, 25 October 2007 — Saudi Arabia and Finland agreed on Monday to broaden their cooperation in areas of human rights by exchanging visits and sharing experience, an official from the Human Rights Commission (HRC) said yesterday.

The agreement was reached at a meeting in Jeddah between Finnish President Tarja Halonen and HRC President Turki Al-Sudairi. “There is a strong commitment from both sides to exchange experience and cooperation in the human rights field,” HRC spokesman Dr. Zuhair Al-Harithi told Arab News.

During the meeting, Halonen noted the importance of Saudi Arabia projecting to the world the true image of its women and their role in society — an image that is often incorrectly portrayed in the West.

“President Halonen expressed to Al-Sudairi how she was impressed to see so many bright and talented Saudi females when she visited King Abdul Aziz University in Jeddah,” Al-Harithi said. “She emphasized the importance of correcting the wrong portrayal of Saudi women abroad.”

The Finnish president visited KAAU earlier on Monday to witness firsthand the standard of education in Saudi universities and discuss with education officials areas of mutual cooperation.

Halonen also expressed her amazement at Jeddah’s historic Balad district and how it reflected the rich culture of the city and its people, the spokesman said. “She said that it was important that the culture of every country be respected. She also suggested that since both Saudi Arabia and Finland were members of the International Human Rights Council they could help bridge gaps between Islam and the West,” the HRC spokesman said.

On his part, Al-Sudairi explained to the Finnish president the role of the HRC in Saudi Arabia, as well as its duties and responsibilities. He said the HRC was in the process of launching a nationwide human rights awareness campaign.

Al-Harithi said Al-Sudairi described to the president how Saudi Arabia transformed from a Bedouin society to a modern Kingdom in a few decades. He also discussed with the president various economic and political reforms witnessed by the Kingdom under Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah.

President Halonen left the Kingdom yesterday after a landmark three-day visit, the first ever by a Finnish head of state to Saudi Arabia. During her visit she held talks with King Abdullah, Crown Prince Sultan and Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal as well as the business community in Jeddah and Riyadh.

Minister of Trade and Commerce Hashim Yamani is expected to visit Finland next month to further boost trade relations between the two countries.