South Korea’s Yoon Departs for Saudi Arabia and Qatar

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon Hee wave before departing from Seoul on the presidential plane Code One for state visits to Saudi Arabia and Qatar, Seoul, South Korea, 21 October 2023. (EPA/Yonhap)
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon Hee wave before departing from Seoul on the presidential plane Code One for state visits to Saudi Arabia and Qatar, Seoul, South Korea, 21 October 2023. (EPA/Yonhap)
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South Korea’s Yoon Departs for Saudi Arabia and Qatar

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon Hee wave before departing from Seoul on the presidential plane Code One for state visits to Saudi Arabia and Qatar, Seoul, South Korea, 21 October 2023. (EPA/Yonhap)
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon Hee wave before departing from Seoul on the presidential plane Code One for state visits to Saudi Arabia and Qatar, Seoul, South Korea, 21 October 2023. (EPA/Yonhap)

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol left for Saudi Arabia and Qatar on Saturday to discuss business cooperation as well as to discuss security conditions amid the crisis in the Middle East, his office said.

Yoon, in what would be the first state visit by a South Korean leader, will hold talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Sunday, and will travel to Qatar on Oct. 24-25 for a summit and to attend a business forum.

The state visit takes place roughly a year after Crown Prince Mohammed visited South Korea and discussed cooperation in the areas of energy, defense and infrastructure construction, signing investment pacts worth $30 billion with Korean firms.

Business leaders accompanying President Yoon include Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Jay Y. Lee, Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair E.S. Chung and the heads of Hanwha, GS, and HD Hyundai conglomerates, according to Yoon's office.



Saudi Arabia Urges Int’l Community to Push for Ceasefire in Gaza, Lebanon

The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs participates in the outreach session of the second G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Italy’s Fiuggi. SPA
The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs participates in the outreach session of the second G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Italy’s Fiuggi. SPA
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Saudi Arabia Urges Int’l Community to Push for Ceasefire in Gaza, Lebanon

The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs participates in the outreach session of the second G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Italy’s Fiuggi. SPA
The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs participates in the outreach session of the second G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Italy’s Fiuggi. SPA

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah participated on Monday in the outreach session of the second G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Italy’s Fiuggi held with counterparts from several Arab countries, including Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt, and the Secretary General of the Arab League.

During the session titled "Stability in the Middle East," Prince Faisal emphasized the importance of fostering multiple partnerships to address regional and international challenges.

In his statement, he highlighted the developments in Gaza and Lebanon, calling on the international community to assume its responsibilities by urgently pushing for an immediate ceasefire, ensuring the unrestricted delivery of humanitarian aid, and advancing efforts to establish an independent Palestinian state through the two-state solution.

He underlined the need to de-escalate tensions in Lebanon while respecting its sovereignty. Prince Faisal also stressed the urgency for finding a permanent solution to the crisis in Sudan to alleviate human suffering.

The session was attended by Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Italy Faisal bin Sattam bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.