Russia to Work on Saudi Green Initiative, Enhance Strategic Partnership with the Kingdom

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman awarding Kirill Dmitriev, the CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) with King Abdulaziz Second-Class Order of Merit (SPA)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman awarding Kirill Dmitriev, the CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) with King Abdulaziz Second-Class Order of Merit (SPA)
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Russia to Work on Saudi Green Initiative, Enhance Strategic Partnership with the Kingdom

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman awarding Kirill Dmitriev, the CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) with King Abdulaziz Second-Class Order of Merit (SPA)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman awarding Kirill Dmitriev, the CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) with King Abdulaziz Second-Class Order of Merit (SPA)

Russia will continue working on boosting its strategic partnership with Saudi Arabia in various fields, including the Green Initiative, announced the CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), Kirill Dmitriev.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Dmitriev said he was impressed with the Saudi Green Initiative that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman revealed on Tuesday.

He explained that RDIF, Russia's sovereign fund, is in cooperation with the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) and other investors to implement a number of major projects related to the project.

He stressed that Saudi Arabia remains Russia's international strategic partner, and it is looking forward to new investment deals with the PIF and other Saudi partners, including Aramco, in the fields of energy, health care, technology, and agriculture.

He pointed out that through its partnership with the PIF, the RDIF launched investments worth more than $2.6 billion in more than 30 projects.

The Russian Fund is collaborating with the Saudi Fund on several mega projects, including Saudi Aramco, SABIC, and Salic, in addition to investments with other Saudi partners in 25 new investment projects in various sectors such as petrochemicals, infrastructure, agriculture, and technology.

Dmitriev explained that the areas of partnership between the two countries include other important initiatives such as the program to strengthen partnership with the private sector, which will attract additional capital to the Saudi economy and ensure further growth in future investments.



Saudi Arabia Urges Global Support for Two-State Solution Alliance

A group photo from the third Asia Cooperation Dialogue summit in Doha, Qatar (SPA)
A group photo from the third Asia Cooperation Dialogue summit in Doha, Qatar (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Urges Global Support for Two-State Solution Alliance

A group photo from the third Asia Cooperation Dialogue summit in Doha, Qatar (SPA)
A group photo from the third Asia Cooperation Dialogue summit in Doha, Qatar (SPA)

The ongoing Israeli war on Gaza and Lebanon, along with rising regional tensions, took center stage at the third Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) summit in Doha, which began on Thursday.
Saudi Arabia urged countries to back the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a key step toward resolving the Middle East crisis.
Speaking on behalf of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan attended the ACD summit and highlighted how continued violence in the region is disrupting international trade and fueling political tensions, which threaten investments and economic cooperation.
“The continuation of aggression and violations in the region hinder the movement of international trade and increase political tensions that threaten the flow of investments and economic cooperation between the countries of the region and the world,” he said.
He called for peaceful and diplomatic solutions to regional conflicts to ensure the region’s prosperity.
“We thank Asia Cooperation Dialogue countries for their support for the two-state solution and their recognition of the State of Palestine, and we urge the rest of the world to follow suit,” Prince Faisal said, reminding that the situation has prompted the Kingdom to work with “brothers and allies in establishing a Global Alliance to Implement the Two-State Solution.”
He stressed that the current unrest in Palestine and Lebanon is a major barrier to economic and commercial development in the region.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reaffirmed Iran’s continued support for resistance groups.
“The Zionist enemy will be punished, and we will keep supporting the resistance until Palestine is liberated,” said Pezeshkian.
Also speaking at the ACD summit, he emphasized: “Those who violate human rights must know that resistance is strong and cannot be eliminated.”
Pezeshkian reiterated Iran’s backing for Palestinian resistance.
After meeting with a Hamas delegation in Doha, Pezeshkian warned that Israel’s ongoing actions had led Iran’s military to deliver a decisive response.
“Israel couldn’t commit these crimes without backing from the US and Europe. If Israel makes any mistake against Iran, it will face a much stronger retaliation than Tuesday’s attack,” he said.
Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, denounced Israel’s actions in Gaza as “genocide” and warned of the consequences of not holding Israel accountable for its crimes against humanity.
Speaking at the summit, Sheikh Tamim said: “Qatar has long warned about the dangers of not addressing Israel’s crimes.”
He pointed to the escalating violence in Gaza, noting that true security can only be achieved through a just peace, which includes creating an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders.
He stressed that Qatar will continue to support the Palestinian people in their fight for their legitimate rights.
“Israel’s relentless attacks on civilians in Gaza and other occupied areas have killed over 41,000 innocent people. What’s happening is genocide, and Gaza is being made uninhabitable to force its residents out,” said Sheikh Tamim.
He also condemned Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon, accusing Israel of using international inaction to expand settlements in the West Bank and prepare for annexation.
“We believe in de-escalating tensions and respecting nations’ sovereignty,” he added, stressing that Israel is taking advantage of global silence to push its agenda in the West Bank and Lebanon.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas also called for urgent international intervention to stop Israeli aggression in Gaza and Lebanon.
He warned that Israel’s attacks have destroyed over 90% of Gaza’s infrastructure.
“Peace cannot coexist with occupation, genocide, and the denial of the Palestinian people’s rights,” Abbas reaffirmed at the ACD summit.