Gdansk - The former leader of Poland's Solidarity trade union Lech Walesa on Saturday presented the first Lech Walesa Prize to Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah for his contribution towards inter- faith dialogue and charity work.

King Abdullah's prize - accepted by his son in his name - was awarded during a celebration in Gdansk that marked the 25th anniversary of Walesa receiving the Nobel Peace Prize.

It recognized King Abdullah for "promotion of values which were the foundation of the Solidarity movement," a conference presenter said.

King Abdullah launched several inter-faith meetings, and a Beirut Summit in 2002 that called for non-violence and an end to the Israeli-Lebanon conflict.

Walesa received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1983 for his leadership in strikes by the Solidarity trade union, which helped peacefully topple the communist regime in Poland.

The anniversary celebrations of his Nobel Peace Prize included leaders such as French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, and Nobel Peace Prize laureates South Africa's FW de Klerk and Israel's Shimon Peres.

It also involved some 200 youths from more than 20 nations that visited historic sites such as the Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz, and were later to meet with Nobel Peace Prize laureates as part of the "Solidarity Express." (dpa)