Hajj Pilgrims Perform Arrival Tawaf amid COVID Precautions

Hajj pilgrims at the Grand Mosque in Makkah. (SPA)
Hajj pilgrims at the Grand Mosque in Makkah. (SPA)
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Hajj Pilgrims Perform Arrival Tawaf amid COVID Precautions

Hajj pilgrims at the Grand Mosque in Makkah. (SPA)
Hajj pilgrims at the Grand Mosque in Makkah. (SPA)

Hajj pilgrims arrived at the Grand Mosque in Makkah on Saturday to perform the Tawaf of Arrival (Tawaf al-Qudum).

The General Presidency for the affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque has taken major preparations and dedicated all possible means to ensure that the pilgrims perform the holy rituals safely and smoothly with the necessary health precautions in place amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Director of the General Department of Crowds at the Grand Holy Mosque, Osama bin Mansour Al-Hujaili said authorities are prepared for the some 11,000 pilgrims, who will perform Saturday’s rituals.

Over 500 personnel will receive the pilgrims at the Grand Mosque and ensure that social distancing and other regulations are respected.



Saudi Arabia, China Laud their ‘Robust’ Relations

Trade between the two countries reached $48 billion by June 2024. SPA
Trade between the two countries reached $48 billion by June 2024. SPA
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Saudi Arabia, China Laud their ‘Robust’ Relations

Trade between the two countries reached $48 billion by June 2024. SPA
Trade between the two countries reached $48 billion by June 2024. SPA

Saudi Arabia and China commended the "robust" economic and investment relations between the two nations, a statement issued at the conclusion of the Fourth Meeting of the High-Level Saudi-Chinese Joint Committee in Riyadh said Thursday.

The statement said that with the aim of bolstering Saudi-Chinese relations, Chinese Premier Li Qiang visited Saudi Arabia to engage in discussions with Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister.

Talks focused on strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries across all fields. They also touched upon key regional and international issues of mutual interest.

“Both parties commended the robust economic, trade, and investment relations between the two nations, with Saudi Arabia being China's top trading partner in the Middle East and reciprocally, China being the Kingdom's foremost trading partner,” said the statement.

“Trade between the two countries reached $48 billion by June 2024, with Saudi exports to China totaling $24 billion and Chinese exports to the Kingdom also amounting to $24 billion,” it added.

During the meeting, the Saudi and Chinese delegations discussed ways to enhance cooperation across various fields, including politics, security, defense, energy, trade and investment, finance, science, technology, culture, and tourism.

Following the discussions, both the Crown Prince and Li signed the official minutes of the Fourth Meeting of the High-Level Saudi-Chinese Joint Committee.