Albudaiwi Stresses GCC's Firm Support for the Palestinian People

The Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jassem Mohamed Albudaiwi
The Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jassem Mohamed Albudaiwi
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Albudaiwi Stresses GCC's Firm Support for the Palestinian People

The Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jassem Mohamed Albudaiwi
The Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jassem Mohamed Albudaiwi

The Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jassem Mohamed Albudaiwi, stressed the firm and absolute support of the GCC member states for the Palestinian people in their fair struggle to attain their legitimate rights.

This came in Albudaiwi's speech at the Fifth Plenary Meeting of the Fourth Term of the Third Legislative Session of the Arab Parliament (AP), held at the headquarters of the Secretariat General of the Arab League in Cairo on Saturday.

Albudaiwi commended the role of the AP and its efforts to promote Arab cooperation and collective action, with the aim of achieving a prosperous and sustainable future.

He noted that the meeting is taking place “at a time when our Arab nation is facing immense and painful challenges, foremost among them is the just cause of Palestine, which will always remain the central and primary Arab priority.”

“This has been consistently reflected in the clear and unwavering positions adopted by the GCC since its establishment,” he said.

Israeli crimes and violations are not only a violation of human rights and international laws, but also a blatant challenge to all human values and principles, he added.

He said Israeli forces were using excessive and indiscriminate force against besieged civilian populations.

The GCC has repeatedly called upon the international community to adopt effective policies and measures to ensure an immediate ceasefire, to deescalate the violence against Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, including Al-Quds and the holy Islamic sites, stop the settlement activities and land confiscation, as well as support the Palestinian people's right to self-determination and the establishment of their independent state within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with the Arab Peace Initiative and all relevant international resolutions, Albudaiwi pointed out.



Saudi Industry, Mineral Resources Minister Begins Official Visit to France

Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef. (SPA file photo)
Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef. (SPA file photo)
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Saudi Industry, Mineral Resources Minister Begins Official Visit to France

Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef. (SPA file photo)
Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef. (SPA file photo)

Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef, leading a high-level delegation from the industry and mining sector, began an official three-day visit to France on Monday, with scheduled stops in Paris, Marseille, and Toulouse.

The visit aims to strengthen bilateral economic ties and foster cooperation between Saudi Arabia and France in the industrial and mining sectors, as well as explore joint investment opportunities in key strategic areas that the Kingdom is prioritizing for localization, particularly the aviation and food industries.

Alkhorayef will hold a series of bilateral meetings with French government officials and leaders of prominent global French companies in the mining, aircraft manufacturing, and food sectors. The meetings will include discussions with Minister of Economy, Finance, and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty Eric Lombard, as well as the CEOs of Airbus, Safran, Orano, Sidel, Lesaffre, and the Bel Group.

The agenda includes expanding joint cooperation in the industrial and mining sectors, attracting high-quality investments to the Kingdom, and building effective partnerships to leverage the promising opportunities offered by Saudi Arabia’s specialized industrial clusters. The Kingdom's incentives and capabilities available to investors will also be highlighted.

Alkhorayef's visit will feature tours of Airbus's aircraft manufacturing plants in Marseille and Toulouse, providing insights into their industrial facilities and production lines.

The visit is also expected to include the signing of memoranda of understanding with French companies to encourage joint investments, facilitate the exchange of expertise, and promote knowledge transfer in promising industrial sectors.

Saudi Arabia and France maintain strong economic relations, with Saudi non-oil exports to France exceeding SAR1.91 billion in 2024, primarily consisting of machinery and electrical appliances, organic chemical products, and aluminum and its derivatives. French non-oil imports reached SAR18.2 billion in the same year, with essential oils, electrical appliances, and pharmaceutical products among the most significant import sectors.

Alkhorayef's visit to France aligns with the objectives of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which emphasizes developing international partnerships to boost the competitiveness of the Saudi industrial sector and transform the Kingdom into a leading global industrial power. This includes localizing advanced strategic industries such as aviation and food, attracting high-quality investments, and facilitating the transfer of knowledge, technology, and innovation in these areas.