Saudi FM: 'Ideal Opportunity' to Discuss Political, Economic Partnerships with Pacific Countries

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan addressing the second ministerial meeting of the Arab states and Pacific islands countries (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan addressing the second ministerial meeting of the Arab states and Pacific islands countries (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi FM: 'Ideal Opportunity' to Discuss Political, Economic Partnerships with Pacific Countries

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan addressing the second ministerial meeting of the Arab states and Pacific islands countries (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan addressing the second ministerial meeting of the Arab states and Pacific islands countries (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said that the "opportunity is ideal" to discuss political and economic partnerships between the Arab countries and the Pacific Small Island countries.

Speaking at the second ministerial meeting between Arab League states and the Pacific Small Island Developing States hosted by Saudi Arabia, bin Farhan stressed that Saudi Arabia is keen to deal with joint and pressing global challenges.

He said that the Kingdom is keen to advance issues of common interest with the Pacific Small Island Developing States and boost cooperation in security, energy, trade, investment, and logistics.

It also aims to activate the role of the private sector to explore investment opportunities that benefit all parties and help further boost cooperation in various fields.

Saudi Arabia seeks to join the Pacific Islands Forum as a dialogue partner to enhance cooperation in various fields.

The Minister said that the Kingdom supports the sovereignty and independence of states and the resolution of conflicts in the region by peaceful means and non-escalation.

Prince Faisal also highlighted the goals of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the Kingdom's efforts to help achieve them, including the launch in 2021 of the Saudi Green and Middle East Green initiatives, which are part of Saudi Arabia's environmental mission under the country's Vision 2030 development and diversification plan.

Addressing the meeting, Prince Faisal said the Kingdom pays excellent attention to facing common and most urgent global challenges, such as food security, supply chain obstacles, climate change, and sustainable development.

The second ministerial meeting between Arab League states and the Pacific Small Island Developing States was held in Riyadh on June 11 and 12. The first meeting was held in June 2010 in the United Arab Emirates.



Syria’s Leader Meets with Bahraini Diplomatic Delegation

The leader of Syria's new administration, Ahmed al-Sharaa meets Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdul Latif Al-Zayani in Damascus, Syria, January 8, 2025. (Bahrain News Agency/Handout via Reuters)
The leader of Syria's new administration, Ahmed al-Sharaa meets Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdul Latif Al-Zayani in Damascus, Syria, January 8, 2025. (Bahrain News Agency/Handout via Reuters)
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Syria’s Leader Meets with Bahraini Diplomatic Delegation

The leader of Syria's new administration, Ahmed al-Sharaa meets Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdul Latif Al-Zayani in Damascus, Syria, January 8, 2025. (Bahrain News Agency/Handout via Reuters)
The leader of Syria's new administration, Ahmed al-Sharaa meets Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdul Latif Al-Zayani in Damascus, Syria, January 8, 2025. (Bahrain News Agency/Handout via Reuters)

Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa received a delegation from Bahrain on Wednesday and met with the Bahraini foreign minister, state media reported.

The visit was the latest in a flurry of diplomatic overtures by Arab countries to Syria’s new leaders after they overthrew former President Bashar al-Assad in a lightning rebel offensive.

Like other Gulf countries, Bahrain had cut off diplomatic ties with Syria under Assad’s rule during the Syrian civil war, but it reopened its embassy in Damascus in 2018 and gradually restored ties with the Assad government.

Bahrain is the current head of the Arab summit, and days after Assad’s ouster it had sent a message to al-Sharaa offering its cooperation with the new authorities and saying, “We look forward to Syria regaining its authentic role in the Arab League.”