Saudi, Chinese Defense Ministers Discuss Bolstering Strategic Partnership

The Saudi and Chinese delegations meet in Beijing on Tuesday. (Saudi Defense Minister on X)
The Saudi and Chinese delegations meet in Beijing on Tuesday. (Saudi Defense Minister on X)
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Saudi, Chinese Defense Ministers Discuss Bolstering Strategic Partnership

The Saudi and Chinese delegations meet in Beijing on Tuesday. (Saudi Defense Minister on X)
The Saudi and Chinese delegations meet in Beijing on Tuesday. (Saudi Defense Minister on X)

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz held talks in Beijing on Tuesday with his Chinese counterpart Lieutenant General Dong Jun as part of his official visit to China.

The officials discussed bilateral relations between their countries and means to bolster them within the framework of their strategic defense partnership to meet common interests and the aspirations of the Saudi and Chinese leaderships.

They also discussed joint coordination efforts to preserve international peace and security.

The meeting was attended by Saudi Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen. Fayyad bin Hamid Al-Ruwaili, Saudi Ambassador to China Abdulrahman bin Ahmed Al-Harbi; Commander of the Strategic Missile Force Lt. Gen. Jarallah bin Mohammed Al-Alweet, Director General of the Office of the Minister of Defense Hisham bin Abdulaziz bin Saif, head of the Armed Forces Operations Authority Maj. Gen. Misfer Al-Ghanem, and Military Attaché at the Saudi Embassy in Beijing Commodore Salem bin Saleh Al-Maliki.

The Chinese delegation at the talks included Deputy Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Central Military Commission Lt. Gen. Jing Jianfeng, Director of the Office of International Military Cooperation at the Central Military Commission Maj. Gen. Li Bin, and several other senior officials.

Earlier, Prince Khalid met with China's Minister of National Defense, Admiral Dong Jun for discussions on ways to strengthen Saudi-Chinese relations as part of their strategic defense partnership.

They also tackled ways to boost defense and military cooperation and reviewed regional and international developments.



King Salman Orders One-Year Extension of the Citizen Account Program

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. (SPA)
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King Salman Orders One-Year Extension of the Citizen Account Program

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. (SPA)

Upon the recommendation of Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Prime Minister and Chairman of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud ordered on Monday that the Citizen Account Program be extended, in its current framework, until the end of 2025.

The directive also includes a one-year extension of the additional support to the program’s beneficiaries, as well as the continuation of the program’s registration process.

The royal directive reflects the Saudi leadership’s keenness on citizens. The additional support to the program’s beneficiaries was already extended under a royal directive in July 2022.