Ricky Kej met French President Emmanuel Macron at a luncheon in his honour in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, took a selfie with the President

In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Ricky Kej, a three-time Grammy Award winner, recently met French President Emmanuel Macron at a luncheon held in his honor. He took a photo with the French president and spoke candidly about their encounter.

“I’m really honored to be a goodwill ambassador with the United Nations, specifically with the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).” Kej said in an interview with media, “The UNCCD is holding its COP16, or Conference of Parties 16, in Saudi Arabia this year. In addition to attending that conference, I’m in Saudi Arabia right now to raise awareness of all the environmental issues we face by making a music video and documentary on land degradation and desertification.”

He went on, “President Macron is here in town, and I’m in Riyadh for the official COP16 festivities. He asked me to lunch after I reached out to him.

“We both hugged each other, and the lunch was beautifully organized by the Saudi government,” he said, remembering his encounter with the French president. “President Macron also introduced me to the honorable Minister of Culture for Saudi Arabia.”

We came up with some suggestions when discussing ways that Saudi Arabia and India may work together via music and our historic civilizations with His Highness Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud. Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud, President Macron, and I took a group photo over lunch; in reality, President Macron used my phone to take the selfie.

Wow! What a day. Met my friend, someone I have absolute respect for – President @EmmanuelMacron at a lunch organized in his honor in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (The last time we met was at the dinner he hosted for our very own Prime Minister @narendramodi ji). I also had the honor to… pic.twitter.com/PLYxdyAeaA

— Ricky Kej (@rickykej) December 4, 2024

His appreciation for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts to make India “visible on the global map” was also offered.

“Our beloved Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji is the person I want to thank the most because he has helped to put India on the map of the globe. India was always seen as being on the sidelines in the past. India will abstain from any intergovernmental decision-making. However, India is now taking the lead in these intergovernmental organizations and decisions in addition to participating in them.

India is regarded as a leader of the Global South, and this is all thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji. The musician added that people want to work with artists like him because of India’s increased visibility on the international scene, the world’s growing respect for India’s strength, power, and soft power, as well as its culture and traditions.

He continued by saying that Indian musicians are becoming more well-known around the world as a result of PM Modi’s efforts. “People are interested in learning more about our work. Folk, classical, and traditional artists are traveling the globe in greater numbers than ever before because people are curious about our musical traditions.

Due to India’s increased visibility, we are playing in venues and holding massive concerts like never before. Our honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji is responsible for all of this, and I will always be appreciative of him for promoting all things Indian, presenting India in the most exquisite manner possible, and inspiring us to follow suit.”

Ricky Kej informed his admirers about the encounter and shared the photo on X. “Wow!” he wrote. What a day. I met President @EmmanuelMacron, a guy I much admire, during a lunch held in his honor in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Our final encounter was at the dinner he threw for our very own Prime Minister @narendramodi ji. Additionally, I had the privilege of meeting His Highness Prince @BadrFAlSaud, with whom I had an amazing conversation on musical cooperation between our two magnificent countries. This is a selfie that we both took. I sent President @EmmanuelMacron my congratulations for an amazing Olympics and for using the arts to unite people and create a more humane future. He is really amazing.

Ricky Kej was present at the banquet meal held at the Louvre Museum in France last year in honor of Prime Minister Narendra Modi by French President Emmanuel Macron.

Ricky posted a few selfies from the occasion on X, writing, “Wow! We Indians are always proud of you, our Honorable Prime Minister @narendramodi ji! attended PM Modiji’s formal dinner at the @MuseeLouvre, which was hosted by the elegant and kind President of France, @EmmanuelMacron. Queen Elizabeth II was the last head of state to be welcomed at the Lovre in 1957! Being seated and dining with the two global leaders is an enormous privilege. Indeed, the planet is in capable hands. A promising future is ahead.

He was seated at the dinner table with President Macron and Prime Minister Modi in the first image. He posted a selfie with Prime Minister Modi in another post.