Saudi-Kuwaiti Coordination Council Holds First Meeting on Sunday

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meeting his Kuwaiti counterpart, Sheikh Mishaal Al-Ahmad, in Riyadh last Tuesday (SPA)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meeting his Kuwaiti counterpart, Sheikh Mishaal Al-Ahmad, in Riyadh last Tuesday (SPA)
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Saudi-Kuwaiti Coordination Council Holds First Meeting on Sunday

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meeting his Kuwaiti counterpart, Sheikh Mishaal Al-Ahmad, in Riyadh last Tuesday (SPA)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meeting his Kuwaiti counterpart, Sheikh Mishaal Al-Ahmad, in Riyadh last Tuesday (SPA)

The Saudi-Kuwaiti Coordination Council will hold its first meeting on Sunday to reflect the strength of relations between the two states and bring them closer to improved integration that fulfills shared ambitions on security, prosperity, and happiness.

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah had jointly issued directives for launching the Council’s first session.

Established in July 2018, the Council aims to develop a joint vision that deepens and sustains relations between the two countries.

It operates in line with the objectives of the Gulf Cooperation Council and works to enhance inter-state economic integration, find innovative solutions for optimal utilization of existing resources, and build an effective educational system.

This relies on shared strengths, enhancing cooperation in political, security, and military fields, ensuring good collaboration and partnership, and highlighting the two countries’ economic standing, human development, political and security-military integration in various areas.

Each of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait aspires to boost trade exchange levels, especially as official statistics show that it amounted to about SAR 8.39 billion in 2019.

That year, Saudi exports to Kuwait amounted to about SAR 7.83 billion, while imports accounted for around SAR1. 56 billion.

As for cooperation during the coronavirus pandemic, there was consistent, direct, and continuous coordination among the two states’ health ministers.

The Kingdom showed keen interest in stabilizing Kuwaiti markets and supporting them through guaranteeing Saudi products reaching Kuwaiti markets by land, sea, and air. This was welcomed and appreciated by the Kuwaiti government.

It is worth noting that Kuwait is also actively working with Saudi Arabia to achieve goals set by the Saudi Crown Prince’s “Green Middle East” initiative.



Bukhari: Saudi Arabia Will Stand by Lebanon, Its People and President

Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Waleed Al-Bukhari meets with Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Latif al-Derian in Beirut on Friday. (NNA)
Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Waleed Al-Bukhari meets with Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Latif al-Derian in Beirut on Friday. (NNA)
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Bukhari: Saudi Arabia Will Stand by Lebanon, Its People and President

Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Waleed Al-Bukhari meets with Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Latif al-Derian in Beirut on Friday. (NNA)
Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Waleed Al-Bukhari meets with Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Latif al-Derian in Beirut on Friday. (NNA)

Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Waleed Al-Bukhari stressed on Friday that the election of a president is an important step in Lebanon’s revival and reconstruction.

He also praised President Joseph Aoun’s inaugural speech after he was sworn in on Thursday, saying it reflected his sense of national responsibility.

“Saudi Arabia will stand by Lebanon, its people and president,” declared the ambassador after holding a series of separate meetings with senior religious figures, including Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Latif al-Derian, Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rai and Sheikh Akl of the Druze community Sheikh Sami Abi Al-Muna.

A statement from Derian’s office said Bukhari expressed the Kingdom’s “relief at holding the election, which was achieved through the unity of the Lebanese people and that revives their hopes.”

The election was “an important step towards Lebanon’s revival and reconstruction, and consolidation of security and stability, and will pave the way for reforms so that it can regain the trust of the Arab and international community,” he added.

For his part, Derian expressed his appreciation for Saudi Arabia, Arab and friendly countries, parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and all MPs and Lebanese leaderships for their efforts to ensure that the election was held.

He praised them for adhering to the constitution and Taif Accord and Arab principles related to Lebanon’s identity.

“The election of a president puts Lebanon on the path of political breakthroughs that will be followed up with the formation of a new government, revival of state institutions and return of stability,” he remarked.

After meeting al-Rahi, Bukhari said he hoped Aoun’s term will be that of “national consensus and unity, prosperity, development and stability.”

“Saudi Arabia will stand by Lebanon, its people and president,” he stressed.

Al-Rahi expressed his gratitude to the Saudi Ambassador and the quintet for their efforts to ensure that the election is held, wishing Aoun success in his national missions to revive Lebanon and resolve its crises.