Saudi-Chinese Talks on Strategic Partnership, Global Developments

The Saudi foreign minister and his Chinese counterpart perform a preventive elbow bump during their meeting on Thursday in the Uzbek capital (SPA)
The Saudi foreign minister and his Chinese counterpart perform a preventive elbow bump during their meeting on Thursday in the Uzbek capital (SPA)
TT

Saudi-Chinese Talks on Strategic Partnership, Global Developments

The Saudi foreign minister and his Chinese counterpart perform a preventive elbow bump during their meeting on Thursday in the Uzbek capital (SPA)
The Saudi foreign minister and his Chinese counterpart perform a preventive elbow bump during their meeting on Thursday in the Uzbek capital (SPA)

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan met on Thursday with Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi for official discussions in the Uzbek capital, Tashkent.

During the meeting, Prince Faisal and Councilor Wang reviewed strategic ties and their two countries’ close partnership.

They also discussed ways of reinforcing bilateral relations in several fields of common interest, boosting multilayered coordination and the latest developments in the region and the world.

The two officials also examined cooperation on combating the coronavirus pandemic and support for all international efforts in this regard. They voiced their anticipation for continued collaboration in fighting the spread of the COVID-19 disease.

Prince Faisal had arrived in Tashkent for a two-day international conference titled “Central and South Asia: Regional Connectivity, Challenges, and Opportunities.”

During his stay in Tashkent, the Saudi minister met with Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tleuberdi, Tajikistan’s Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin, and Turkmenistan’s Foreign Minister Raşit Meredow.

During the meetings, the officials discussed bilateral relations and the means to strengthen them in different fields to serve common interests.

Also, they reviewed Saudi Arabia’s global efforts and support for ways to address the coronavirus pandemic through the Kingdom’s presidency of the G20 last year.

The meetings also shed light on Vision 2030 and its programs, which aim to achieve sustainable development and provide significant investment opportunities in different sectors.

In other news, Prince Faisal received a written message from his Omani counterpart, Sayyed Badr Al-Busaidi.

The message was received on Prince Faisal’s behalf by Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Walid Al-Khuraiji upon meeting Oman’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia in Riyadh.

The deputy foreign minister and Omani ambassador discussed bilateral relations and ways to enhance them across various fields. They also exchanged views on regional and international issues.



Syria's New Rulers Urge US to Lift Sanctions During Visit to Doha

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, meets Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Doha, Qatar, January 5, 2025. (SANA/Handout via Reuters)
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, meets Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Doha, Qatar, January 5, 2025. (SANA/Handout via Reuters)
TT

Syria's New Rulers Urge US to Lift Sanctions During Visit to Doha

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, meets Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Doha, Qatar, January 5, 2025. (SANA/Handout via Reuters)
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, meets Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Doha, Qatar, January 5, 2025. (SANA/Handout via Reuters)

Syria's new rulers said on Sunday that US sanctions on Syria were an obstacle to the war-torn country's rapid recovery and urged Washington to lift them during a visit by Syrian officials to Qatar.

"These sanctions constitute a barrier and an obstacle to the rapid recovery and development of the Syrian people who await services and partnerships from other countries," Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani told reporters after meeting with Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who also serves as foreign minister.

"We reiterate our calls for the United States to lift these sanctions, which have now become against the Syrian people rather than what they previously were: imposed sanctions on the Assad regime," he said.

Shibani, on his second foreign trip less than a month after former President Bashar al-Assad was ousted by opposition factions on Dec. 8, said that Qatar will be a partner in the new phase in Syria.

Doha had not normalized ties with Assad over his government's violent response to 2011 protests and backed the opposition instead.

Shibani, who was joined by Syrian Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra and Head of Intelligence Anas Khattab, met with other senior Qatari officials including Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Mohammed Al-Khulaifi, a Qatari official told Reuters earlier.

Shibani presented the Qataris a clear roadmap for the near future in Syria and steps that would be taken by the new Syrian administration, Al-Khulaifi told reporters after the meeting.

"We are working together to prevent any foreign interference in Syrian affairs," Al-Khulaifi added.

Shibani said the roadmap is meant to "rebuild our country, restore its Arab and foreign relations, enable the Syrian people to obtain their civil and basic rights, and present a government that the Syrian people feel it represents them and all their components."

He is expected to also visit the United Arab Emirates and Jordan this week to "support stability, security, economic recovery and build distinguished partnerships," according to his account on X.

Shibani embarked on his first foreign trip to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday where Saudi officials discussed how best to support Syria's political transition.