The second ministerial meeting between members of the Arab League and the Pacific Small Island Developing States issued the "Riyadh Declaration," addressing several issues of common interest.
The two-day meeting held in Riyadh on June 11, was chaired by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan. The Arab League Sec-Gen Ahmed Aboul Gheit attended it.
The Declaration expressed the support of participating countries for Saudi Arabia's candidacy to host EXPO 2030 in Riyadh and called for exerting all needed efforts with other friendly countries to support this candidacy.
The meeting recalled the outcomes of the first Joint Ministerial Meeting between both sides in June 2010 in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
The first meeting affirmed joint commitment to developing a constructive partnership between the Arab League and the Pacific Small Island Developing States that enhances South-South cooperation and achieves mutual benefit.
The conference noted the Pacific Islands Forum Declaration on Preserving Maritime Zones in the face of climate change-related Sea Level Rise.
The Declaration proclaims that maritime zones, established under the 1982 UNCLOS, and the rights and entitlement that flow from them shall continue to apply, without reduction, notwithstanding any physical changes connected to climate change-related sea-level rise.
The Pacific Islands Forum had declared a Climate Emergency in the Pacific region.
It agreed to work together in implementing the Paris Agreement and called for stronger and more ambitious climate action to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels.
Interlocutors also urged collective efforts to provide financial, technology transfer, capacity-building support for developing countries, and additional accessible finance addressing climate change.
The meeting recognized the exceptional circumstances of Arab states and Small Island Developing States concerning access to financing for development, including climate finance.
They stressed the importance of keeping marine resources free from environmental pollution by radioactive wastes, other radioactive matters, and plastics.
The meeting reiterated the importance of ensuring international consultation, adherence to international law, and independent and verifiable scientific assessment to protect, preserve, and sustainably manage the ocean and its marine resources.
The meeting also stressed the centrality of providing finance and technology transfers concerning environmental issues to implement the just transition to environmentally sound economic activities.
It agreed to support the initiatives aiming at achieving green development, including the Saudi and Middle East Green initiatives.
The meeting expressed the mutual desire to promote cooperation and establish partnerships between Arab and Pacific countries in varied fields of mutual interest, such as diplomatic relations, economy, trade, investment, renewable energy, tourism, and transportation.
It also included environment protection, preservation of maritime zones, biodiversity, responses to natural disasters, science, technology, communication, education, human resources development, agriculture, food security, and sustainable development.
The meeting underscored the need to respect people's cultural and civilization specificity.
They determined to steadily go forward with expediting dialogue among civilizations and cultures to achieve peace and development for all humanity.
The Riyadh Declaration pointed to the increasing catastrophic and severe challenges posed by climate change at all levels and stressed the importance of working together to address it effectively with a sense of urgency.
They welcomed the UN efforts in this regard, the Sharm el-Sheikh summit COP27 outcomes, and the UN Climate Change Conference COP28 in Dubai pledging to contribute towards its successful outcomes, including the operationalization of the Loss and Damage Facility.
Participants also emphasized the need for mutual support between Arab countries and Pacific Small Island Developing States regarding the issues raised at the UN and other international organizations.
The meeting emphasized their interest in establishing a cooperation forum between Arab countries and Pacific Small Island Developing States, based on both sides' commitment to reinforcing their cooperation relations.
The meeting agreed to convene the 3rd Arab-Pacific Small Island Developing States Ministerial Meeting at a venue and time to be decided.
