Saudi Arabia: Coronavirus Pandemic Demonstrated Wisdom of ‘Vision 2030’

A part of the meeting in which the Saudi Ambassador in London participated in on Wednesday, ABCC twitter account.
A part of the meeting in which the Saudi Ambassador in London participated in on Wednesday, ABCC twitter account.
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Saudi Arabia: Coronavirus Pandemic Demonstrated Wisdom of ‘Vision 2030’

A part of the meeting in which the Saudi Ambassador in London participated in on Wednesday, ABCC twitter account.
A part of the meeting in which the Saudi Ambassador in London participated in on Wednesday, ABCC twitter account.

Prince Khalid bin Bandar, the Saudi ambassador to the UK, said that the COVID-19 pandemic has proven the wisdom behind Saudi Arabia’s vision for national transformation “Vision 2030” and has reinforced the importance of achieving its goals.

Prince Khalid on Wednesday told an online seminar organized by the Arab-British Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) that the trends around the world in response to COVID-19 coalesced with the changes under way in his country.

He also revealed that, within two weeks, a plan for the resumption of flights to and from Saudi Arabia will be announced.
Prince Khalid was speaking at a roundtable organized by ABCC.

It was hosted by ABCC Chairwoman Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean, and joined by its CEO and Secretary-General Bandar Reda, and the chairman of the Council of Saudi Chambers and the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ajlan Al-Ajlan.

It was organized to discuss the repercussions of the COVID-19 crisis on Saudi-UK trade ties, investment opportunities and partnerships.

Prince Khalid considered that “we are at a remarkable time to talk about investment opportunities, not only in the Middle East region, but also around the world. Everyone suffers, learns and develops new strategies for progress in the post-COVID-19 world.”

He said that Saudi Arabia offers the world a wonderful investment opportunity, whether before or after COVID-19. This is because it is a country that is going through a stage of great change.

Prince Khalid explained that the Kingdom, four years ago, has established Kingdom Vision 2030 under the leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to restructure the whole country. This, according to the ambassador, presents mega investment opportunities in a number of sectors.

He also pointed to the major reforms in regulations and laws to ensure parity between foreign and Saudi investors, protecting investments, creating sustainable long-term investments, equal access to opportunities, and reforming the system of commercial arbitration.



Syria’s Leader Meets with Bahraini Diplomatic Delegation

The leader of Syria's new administration, Ahmed al-Sharaa meets Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdul Latif Al-Zayani in Damascus, Syria, January 8, 2025. (Bahrain News Agency/Handout via Reuters)
The leader of Syria's new administration, Ahmed al-Sharaa meets Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdul Latif Al-Zayani in Damascus, Syria, January 8, 2025. (Bahrain News Agency/Handout via Reuters)
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Syria’s Leader Meets with Bahraini Diplomatic Delegation

The leader of Syria's new administration, Ahmed al-Sharaa meets Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdul Latif Al-Zayani in Damascus, Syria, January 8, 2025. (Bahrain News Agency/Handout via Reuters)
The leader of Syria's new administration, Ahmed al-Sharaa meets Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdul Latif Al-Zayani in Damascus, Syria, January 8, 2025. (Bahrain News Agency/Handout via Reuters)

Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa received a delegation from Bahrain on Wednesday and met with the Bahraini foreign minister, state media reported.

The visit was the latest in a flurry of diplomatic overtures by Arab countries to Syria’s new leaders after they overthrew former President Bashar al-Assad in a lightning rebel offensive.

Like other Gulf countries, Bahrain had cut off diplomatic ties with Syria under Assad’s rule during the Syrian civil war, but it reopened its embassy in Damascus in 2018 and gradually restored ties with the Assad government.

Bahrain is the current head of the Arab summit, and days after Assad’s ouster it had sent a message to al-Sharaa offering its cooperation with the new authorities and saying, “We look forward to Syria regaining its authentic role in the Arab League.”