Saudi King Promises a Cooperative Environment for G20

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman (SPA)
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Saudi King Promises a Cooperative Environment for G20

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman (SPA)

Saudi King Salman bin Abdul Aziz welcomed the participants of the upcoming G20 summit, which will be hosted by Saudi Arabia next year, hoping to establish a dynamic and cooperative environment for the group to come up with initiatives to achieve the hopes of the peoples of the world.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques asserted that international collaboration is more important than ever in an increasingly interconnected world, where G20 countries and their people face common challenges.

Saudi Arabia is the first Arab country to take over the G20 presidency, which will continue until late 2020. The summit will be held in Riyadh on November 21 and 22, bringing together leaders of 20 countries to discuss the most important issues in the global economy, climate change, poverty in developing countries, and others.

“We, in the G20, have a collective responsibility to advance global cooperation. We should empower people, pave the way for a better future for all and strive for sustainable economic policies to safeguard planet earth,” asserted King Salman.

He noted that the Kingdom will be forward-looking and adopt a bold long-term vision that makes the most of the current wave of innovation to shape new frontiers, noting that the theme of the Saudi G20 will be “Realizing Opportunities of the 21st Century for All.”

“In doing so, we will build on the strong legacy of the G20, which has demonstrated the ability to take the long-term view of future challenges and opportunities and to deal effectively with urgent issues.”

The Custodian indicated that the Kingdom is currently undergoing a historic transformation under Vision 2030 that aims to foster a vibrant society, a thriving economy, and an ambitious nation.

The Kingdom will work with G20 members to exchange experiences, solidify global cooperation, and find solutions for the world’s most pressing challenges of the 21st century, asserted King Salman.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman also asserted that the Saudi G20 presidency is committed to continuing the work from Osaka and promoting multilateral consensus.

“Working with our G20 partners, we will strive to deliver concrete actions and realize opportunities to enable us to face the challenges of the future.”

The Crown Prince noted that, in hosting the G20, the Kingdom will have an important role to play by sharing the perspective of the Middle East and North Africa region.

“We believe this will be a unique opportunity to shape consensus on international issues as we welcome the world to the Kingdom.”

Leading to the summit, Saudi Arabia will host over 100 events, including meetings of officials and representatives of communication groups.

The G-20 was established in 1999 in Washington to promote international financial stability and create dialogue opportunities between industrialized and emerging countries, and have since then been held annually in various cities of member states.

The summit in Saudi Arabia, will focus on three aims including: empowering people, especially women and young people, safeguarding the planet by fostering collective efforts on food and water security, climate, energy and environment, and shaping new frontiers by adopting long-term, bold strategies to share the benefits of innovation and technological advancement.



Iranian Official to Asharq Al-Awsat: Committed to Peace and Stability with Saudi Arabia

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi (Reuters)
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi (Reuters)
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Iranian Official to Asharq Al-Awsat: Committed to Peace and Stability with Saudi Arabia

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi (Reuters)
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi (Reuters)

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi reaffirmed Iran and Saudi Arabia’s mutual determination to establish lasting peace and stability in the region.
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat during his visit to Riyadh, Ravanchi emphasized that achieving this goal requires sustained bilateral and regional cooperation to address current threats and build a foundation for prosperity and security.
During his meetings with the Saudi Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Eng. Waleed ElKhereiji, Ravanchi discussed strengthening bilateral relations in political, economic, and consular fields, and explored key regional and international issues.
He described Saudi-Iranian efforts as a “successful model of bilateral and multilateral cooperation,” aimed at fostering peace, security, and development on both regional and international levels. Ravanchi underscored the importance of historical ties and the principle of good neighborliness as the basis for advancing this relationship.
Following the second meeting of the Saudi-Chinese-Iranian trilateral committee in Riyadh, both Saudi Arabia and Iran reiterated their full commitment to implementing the Beijing Agreement, according to a statement by the Saudi foreign ministry. The accord, mediated by China, aims to restore diplomatic ties and promote mutual respect for sovereignty and security in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and international law.
China praised the progress achieved since the agreement’s signing, including the reopening of embassies and increased bilateral engagement. It pledged to continue supporting Saudi-Iranian efforts to deepen their cooperation and maintain regional stability.
Ravanchi, who previously served as Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations and was a member of the Iranian nuclear negotiating team with the P5+1, described the atmosphere of the meetings as “cordial and transparent.” He added that the three nations exchanged views on topics of mutual interest and stressed the importance of continuing this “positive and forward-looking process.” He also revealed “constructive and friendly” meetings held by the Iranian delegation with their Saudi hosts and Chinese counterparts, during which they discussed enhancing bilateral and trilateral cooperation and reviewed developments in relations over the past year.
One significant development has been the improvement in consular services. Over 87,000 Iranian pilgrims performed Hajj, and more than 52,000 completed Umrah in the past year, demonstrating enhanced coordination. Additionally, the first meeting of the Saudi-Iranian Joint Media Committee and the signing of an MoU between Saudi Arabia’s Prince Saud Al-Faisal Institute for Diplomatic Studies and Iran’s Institute for Political and International Studies further strengthened institutional ties.
The trilateral meeting also tackled pressing regional challenges, particularly the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The participants condemned Israel’s aggression in Palestine, Lebanon, and Iran, calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the continuation of humanitarian aid to affected regions. They warned that ongoing violence poses significant risks to regional and global security, including threats to maritime safety.
On Yemen, the parties reiterated their support for a comprehensive political solution under United Nations auspices. They emphasized the importance of dialogue and diplomacy to achieve lasting peace in the war-torn country.
Saudi-Iranian relations have undergone a remarkable transformation since the signing of the Beijing Agreement. The reopening of embassies, including Iran’s embassy in Riyadh in June after a seven-year hiatus, marked a turning point in their ties.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Consular Affairs Alireza Bigdeli described the day as a “historic milestone” in Saudi-Iranian relations. He expressed confidence that the renewed relationship would reach its peak, emphasizing that the restoration of ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia opens a new chapter in bilateral and regional relations, aimed at greater cooperation and stability.