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.

 

 

 



Libya’s Unity Gov. Urges Stronger Partnership with Saudi Arabia on Development Projects

Abdul Hamid Dbeibah during his meeting with members of the Saudi delegation (Dbeibah's Office)
Abdul Hamid Dbeibah during his meeting with members of the Saudi delegation (Dbeibah's Office)
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Libya’s Unity Gov. Urges Stronger Partnership with Saudi Arabia on Development Projects

Abdul Hamid Dbeibah during his meeting with members of the Saudi delegation (Dbeibah's Office)
Abdul Hamid Dbeibah during his meeting with members of the Saudi delegation (Dbeibah's Office)

Libya’s Government of National Unity has called for strengthening partnerships with Saudi Arabia in development projects.

The appeal came during a meeting on Thursday between Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah and a high-level delegation from Saudi Arabia’s Amiantit Group.

The group is one of the world's leading companies in the manufacturing of pipes and tanks, offering innovative solutions for water management and infrastructure.

The meeting was also attended by a representative of Technical Link Services for Communications (TLS), a subsidiary of Etihad Salam Telecommunications, which specializes in communications and information technology solutions.

Discussions centered on strengthening Libyan-Saudi cooperation to advance infrastructure projects, stimulate investment in the industrial and agricultural sectors, and expand prospects for collaboration.

The meeting followed agreements with Libya’s Ministry of Housing and Construction on water infrastructure, specialized factories, and advanced water treatment solutions.

The agreements also included deals that aim to upgrade Libya’s communications infrastructure and modernize its IT and telecom services.

In January, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Dbeibah had outlined Libya’s vision to strengthen cooperation with Gulf countries, particularly Saudi Arabia to attract international investment across various economic and development sectors.

He discussed with several Saudi officials ways to reinforce bilateral partnerships in oil, gas, and renewable energy, highlighting Saudi Arabia as a key partner in developing Libya’s oil infrastructure.


Saudi-Emirati Team in Aden to Restore Calm in Eastern Yemen

A view of Yemen's interim capital Aden. (Reuters file)
A view of Yemen's interim capital Aden. (Reuters file)
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Saudi-Emirati Team in Aden to Restore Calm in Eastern Yemen

A view of Yemen's interim capital Aden. (Reuters file)
A view of Yemen's interim capital Aden. (Reuters file)

A Saudi-Emirati team arrived in Yemen’s interim capital Aden on an urgent mission to put in place executive mechanisms for the withdrawal of the Southern Transitional Council (STC) forces from the Hadhramaut and al-Mahra provinces and returning them under the control of previous forces under the direct supervision of the Saudi-led Arab coalition.

The team will discuss arrangements related to the handover of positions to the National Shield Forces to ensure that the situation returns to the way it was before the escalation.

The step is in line with Saudi Arabia’s intense efforts to end the escalation in eastern Yemen, in rejection of any unilateral measures taken by the STC in Hadhramaut, which the coalition viewed as an attempt to impose a new status quo or drag the province into internal strife that threatens peace and stability.

Sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the arrival of the team consolidates Riyadh’s rejection of activities that may create mistrust or deepen the divisions inside Yemen’s legitimate institutions.


UN Secretary General Visits Saudi Digital Government Authority's Innovation Hub in Riyadh

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres meets with officials at the Innovation Hub of the Digital Government Authority (DGA) in Riyadh on Friday. (SPA)
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres meets with officials at the Innovation Hub of the Digital Government Authority (DGA) in Riyadh on Friday. (SPA)
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UN Secretary General Visits Saudi Digital Government Authority's Innovation Hub in Riyadh

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres meets with officials at the Innovation Hub of the Digital Government Authority (DGA) in Riyadh on Friday. (SPA)
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres meets with officials at the Innovation Hub of the Digital Government Authority (DGA) in Riyadh on Friday. (SPA)

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and his accompanying delegation visited on Friday Saudi Arabia’s Innovation Hub of the Digital Government Authority (DGA) in Riyadh.

He met with DGA Governor Eng. Ahmed Alsuwaiyan. Saudi Arabia's Permanent Representative to the UN in New York Ambassador Dr. Abdulaziz Alwasil was also present during the visit.

The officials discussed issues of mutual interest, including digital government development, support for innovation, and the enhancement of sustainable digital transformation ecosystems. They reviewed the Kingdom's efforts in digital enablement to support the Sustainable Development Goals and improve government sector efficiency.

The meeting addressed avenues for cooperation between the DGA and UN organizations, particularly in knowledge exchange, the development of digital standards, the enablement of emerging technologies and artificial intelligence, the enhancement of digital capabilities, and the building of partnerships to improve the quality of digital services internationally.

Guterres was briefed on the DGA Innovation Hub, which houses a range of specialized laboratories and facilities, such as the Digital Inclusion Lab, Service Design Lab, Learning Experience Lab, and AI and Emerging Technologies Lab, along with other resources supporting innovation and the development of government digital solutions.

The DGA team presented an overview of the Kingdom's digital government strategy and progress in UN e-government development indicators, reflecting the maturity of the national digital experience and the advancement of the Kingdom's digital infrastructure.

Guterres commended the Kingdom's qualitative progress in digital government, stressing that the level achieved represents a leading international model and reflects a clear commitment to developing innovative and effective government services.

He emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation to support initiatives that foster an advanced digital future in service of global development.