The Riyadh Declaration towards a New Chapter of Saudi-African Cooperation

The Riyadh Declaration constitutes a roadmap for Saudi-African cooperation. (SPA)
The Riyadh Declaration constitutes a roadmap for Saudi-African cooperation. (SPA)
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The Riyadh Declaration towards a New Chapter of Saudi-African Cooperation

The Riyadh Declaration constitutes a roadmap for Saudi-African cooperation. (SPA)
The Riyadh Declaration constitutes a roadmap for Saudi-African cooperation. (SPA)

The first Saudi-African Summit concluded its work in Riyadh on Friday, with the leaders of African countries confirming that the meeting represented an important historical turning point in African relations with Saudi Arabia, which will open broader horizons for cooperation in all fields.

The summit concluded with the adoption of the Riyadh Declaration, which includes a road map for Saudi-African cooperation, during which the leaders renewed their commitment to strengthening cooperation on the basis of strategic partnership, common interests, and geographical, historical and cultural ties.

Saudi Arabia, for its part, emphasized its historical ties with the African continent and its interest in developing relations with all its countries in the political, economic, investment, trade, and development, cultural and social fields.

The participants approved recommendations regarding the formation of four working groups. Those include: The working group for political, security and military affairs and combating extremism and terrorism, the committee for economic, development, commercial and investment affairs, another working group for cultural, educational and civilizational communication, and finally, the humanitarian and health affairs working group.

On the other hand, the Riyadh Declaration revealed that the leaders discussed developments in the situation in Palestine and expressed their deep concern about the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.

In this context, the participants stressed the need to stop military operations in the occupied Palestinian territories and to protect civilians in accordance with international law and international humanitarian law, pointing to the importance of the role of the international community to pressure the Israeli side to stop its attacks and forced displacement of Palestinians.

On a different note, the leaders at the summit touched on the need to intensify cooperation in the field of maritime security as one of the factors for stability and development of countries.

On the economic, developmental, commercial and investment levels, the Riyadh Declaration stated that the leaders highlighted the depth of the historical relations between Saudi Arabia and the countries of the African continent. They noted that the Kingdom has provided development support worth more than $45 billion in five decades in many vital sectors, benefitting 46 African countries.

The Saudi and African sides agreed to strengthen economic relations in the industrial and mining sectors, and to increase non-oil exports, welcoming the remarkable growth in trade exchange between them during the past five years.

They also expressed their aspiration to discuss areas of joint cooperation with regard to energy efficiency, electric and renewable energy, and work to localize energy sector products.

According to the Riyadh Declaration, the leaders of African countries welcomed Saudi Arabia’s launch of the Green Saudi Arabia and Green Middle East initiatives, and expressed their support for the Kingdom’s efforts in combating climate change, by implementing the circular carbon economy approach, which was launched by Saudi Arabia and approved by the leaders of the G20 countries.

The African states affirmed their support for Saudi Arabia’s candidacy to host the Expo 2030 exhibition in the city of Riyadh, and also welcomed the Kingdom’s candidacy to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup.

Saudi Arabia, for its part, expressed its support for policies, plans and directions that would develop the tourism sector in the African Union countries, in coordination with the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNTWO) and the African Union.



Saudi and Indonesian Leaders Hold Talks on Regional, Global Issues

The Saudi Crown Prince and the Indonesian President during their talks at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah on Wednesday (SPA) 
The Saudi Crown Prince and the Indonesian President during their talks at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah on Wednesday (SPA) 
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Saudi and Indonesian Leaders Hold Talks on Regional, Global Issues

The Saudi Crown Prince and the Indonesian President during their talks at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah on Wednesday (SPA) 
The Saudi Crown Prince and the Indonesian President during their talks at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah on Wednesday (SPA) 

Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman held official talks on Wednesday with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, focusing on the latest regional and international developments, as well as efforts to address them. The leaders also discussed a range of issues of common interest and ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

The meeting took place at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah, where Subianto was welcomed with an official reception ceremony. During their discussions, the two sides reviewed the state of relations between Saudi Arabia and Indonesia and explored opportunities to expand collaboration across various sectors.

The visit also marked the convening of the first session of the Saudi-Indonesian Supreme Coordination Council. Senior officials from both countries attended the meeting, where a number of topics on the council’s agenda were addressed. At the conclusion, the two leaders signed the official record of the proceedings.

President Subianto arrived in Jeddah on Tuesday for a state visit to the Kingdom. He was received at King Abdulaziz International Airport by Prince Saud bin Mishaal, Deputy Governor of the Makkah Region; Minister of Commerce Dr. Majid Al-Qasabi, who served as the accompanying minister; and other senior officials.

The Indonesian president’s visit comes amid significant regional developments, highlighting the importance of close coordination between Riyadh and Jakarta to reinforce regional and global security and stability.

Saudi Arabia and Indonesia share a common vision on resolving conflicts through peaceful, diplomatic means and dialogue. Both countries emphasize the need to create conditions that promote stability and security in the Middle East and beyond.

Ties between Saudi Arabia and Indonesia have steadily grown over nearly eight decades, encompassing political, economic, and cultural cooperation. The two countries are influential members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and play important roles within the G20. They are also bound by longstanding and close ties between their peoples.

Formal relations date back to the era of King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman, when Saudi Arabia was among the first nations to recognize Indonesia’s independence. This early recognition paved the way for the exchange of diplomatic missions, which later developed into full embassies. Indonesia opened its first embassy in Jeddah in 1948, while Saudi Arabia established its embassy in Jakarta in 1955.

Today, Saudi Arabia is Indonesia’s largest trading partner in the region. Both governments are committed to strengthening and diversifying trade, overcoming obstacles that hinder economic exchange, and fostering deeper engagement between their private sectors. Bilateral trade reached $6.5 billion by the end of 2024.

According to the Saudi Aid Platform, the Kingdom has implemented 113 projects in Indonesia, with a combined value of approximately $670 million. These projects span sectors such as education, transport and logistics, industry, mining, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, healthcare and early recovery, housing, non-food assistance, and a variety of developmental, humanitarian, and charitable initiatives.