Abdulaziz bin Salman: In Saudi Arabia, We Don’t Know the Word ‘Impossible’

Prince Abdulaziz highlighted that Saudi Arabia is achieving “record-low costs for renewable energy generation." Asharq Al-Awsat
Prince Abdulaziz highlighted that Saudi Arabia is achieving “record-low costs for renewable energy generation." Asharq Al-Awsat
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Abdulaziz bin Salman: In Saudi Arabia, We Don’t Know the Word ‘Impossible’

Prince Abdulaziz highlighted that Saudi Arabia is achieving “record-low costs for renewable energy generation." Asharq Al-Awsat
Prince Abdulaziz highlighted that Saudi Arabia is achieving “record-low costs for renewable energy generation." Asharq Al-Awsat

Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman stated that Saudi Arabia might be the only country positioned to financially benefit from the global energy transition toward renewables, affirming: “In the Kingdom, we don’t know the word ‘impossible.’”

Speaking at a session on New Energy Economies during the eighth annual Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh on Tuesday, he explained: “We’re building nearly 4,000 kilometers of gas pipelines to supply cities with affordable gas as part of our energy transition strategy. This could potentially triple our chemical production, providing us with valuable liquids and methane gas, which will yield substantial gains for the Kingdom.”

“How many countries worldwide are taking on what we are in terms of energy transition and accelerating the Vision 2030 targets?” he asked, adding: “This country doesn’t know the word ‘impossible.’ Over the last six years, we have achieved significant progress with focus and purpose, using our circular carbon economy approach to direct us to where we intend to go. Our aim is to diversify our economy, create value, strengthen supply chains, and generate jobs—all core to Saudi Arabia’s plans.”

Prince Abdulaziz highlighted that Saudi Arabia is achieving “record-low costs for renewable energy generation” and shared plans to provide 20 gigawatts of renewable energy annually. He emphasized that the country is proactively identifying suitable sites for renewable energy production and accelerating its shift toward gas.

“Since 2020, we have produced 44 gigawatts of renewable energy—equivalent to about half of the total capacity in the UK and 90% of that in Sweden.” He added that Saudi Arabia will be uniquely positioned to profit financially from the energy transition.

The Kingdom is also working to connect all regions to at least two electricity sources and is expanding pipelines nationwide to ensure industrial cities have a stable gas supply.

Prince Abdulaziz announced agreements and contracts supporting these goals, targeting nine electricity control centers by 2030, up from the current two.

“We have already signed for 26 gigawatts of battery storage, aiming to reach 48 gigawatts by 2030. Some G20 countries haven’t reached these figures,” he remarked.

He also noted ongoing collaborations with the Public Investment Fund (PIF) to launch an optimized carbon market and with Ma’aden to secure critical mineral supplies both domestically and internationally. Referring to the Saudi Green Initiative and Middle East Green Initiative, he noted: “No other country has initiatives like these.”

The minister reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s commitment to maintaining a crude oil production capacity of at least 12.3 million barrels per day, saying: “We are committed to sustaining this production level, and we take pride in that.”



US, China Reach Deal to Cut Trade Deficit, US Officials Say

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (L) and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer speak to the media after talks between seniors US and Chinese officials on tariffs at the residence of the permanent Swiss ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva on May 11, 2025. (Photo by VALENTIN FLAURAUD / AFP)
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (L) and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer speak to the media after talks between seniors US and Chinese officials on tariffs at the residence of the permanent Swiss ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva on May 11, 2025. (Photo by VALENTIN FLAURAUD / AFP)
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US, China Reach Deal to Cut Trade Deficit, US Officials Say

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (L) and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer speak to the media after talks between seniors US and Chinese officials on tariffs at the residence of the permanent Swiss ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva on May 11, 2025. (Photo by VALENTIN FLAURAUD / AFP)
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (L) and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer speak to the media after talks between seniors US and Chinese officials on tariffs at the residence of the permanent Swiss ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva on May 11, 2025. (Photo by VALENTIN FLAURAUD / AFP)

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Sunday reported "substantial progress" in US talks with China's top economic officials to de-escalate a damaging trade war, but offered no details of an agreement reached as two days of negotiations wrapped up in Geneva.
Bessent told reporters that details would be announced on Monday and that US President Donald Trump was fully aware of the results of the "productive talks."
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, who participated in the talks with Bessent, Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and two Chinese vice ministers, described the conclusion as "a deal we struck with our Chinese partners" that will help reduce the $1.2 trillion US global goods trade deficit.
"And this was, as the Secretary pointed out, a very constructive two days. It's important to understand how quickly we were able to come to agreement, which reflects that perhaps the differences were not so large as maybe thought," Greer said, adding that the Chinese officials were "tough negotiators"
The meeting was the first face-to-face interaction between Bessent, Greer and He since the world's two largest economies imposed tariffs well above 100% on each other's goods.
Although Bessent has said the bilateral tariffs were too high and needed to come down in a de-escalation move, he did not offer any details of reductions agreed and took no questions from reporters, Reuters said.
Earlier, White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett said the Chinese were "very, very eager" to engage in discussions and rebalance trade relations with the United States.
Hassett also told Fox News that more foreign trade deals could be coming with other countries as soon as this week.
Overnight, Trump gave a positive reading of the talks, saying the two sides had negotiated "a total reset... in a friendly, but constructive, manner."
"A very good meeting today with China, in Switzerland. Many things discussed, much agreed to," Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.
"We want to see, for the good of both China and the US, an opening up of China to American business. GREAT PROGRESS MADE!!!," Trump added, without elaborating on the progress.
Speaking on "Sunday Morning Futures" on Fox News with Maria Bartiromo, Hassett said Beijing is eager to re-set trade relations with the United States.
"It looks like the Chinese are very, very eager to play ball and to re-normalize things," Hassett said.
Hassett also said more trade deal announcements could be imminent following last week's announcement of an agreement with the United Kingdom. He said he had been briefed by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on two dozen pending deals in development with USTR Greer.
"They all look a little bit like the UK deal but each one is bespoke," Hassett said.
GATED VILLA
The negotiating teams met at the gated villa of Switzerland's UN ambassador, overlooking Lake Geneva in the leafy suburb of Cologny. Black Mercedes vans with sirens shuttled to and from the venue, which was bathed in bright sunshine.
Neutral Switzerland was chosen as the venue following approaches by Swiss politicians on recent visits to China and the United States.
Washington is seeking to reduce its $295 billion goods trade deficit with Beijing and persuade China to renounce what the United States says is a mercantilist economic model and contribute more to global consumption, a shift that would require politically sensitive domestic reforms.