Saudi-Chinese Talks Tackle Regional, Int'l Developments

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan. (SPA)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan. (SPA)
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Saudi-Chinese Talks Tackle Regional, Int'l Developments

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan. (SPA)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan. (SPA)

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan held talks on Monday with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in the southern Chinese city of Wuxi.

Discussions focused on the strong bilateral relations between their countries in all fields of cooperation and coordination.

They also covered regional and international developments, particularly bolstering security and stability in the Middle East and efforts to consolidate peace in the region and world.

They exchanged views on Iran's nuclear program and on international negotiations related to them.

On Afghanistan, they stressed the need to support all factors that would secure its security and stability.

The ministers discussed opportunities to broaden the strategic ties of friendship between Saudi Arabia and China through their countries' joint coordination committee, which is engaged in strategic planning and coordination in several fields in line with the Kingdom's Vision 2030.



Saudi Interior Ministry Enforces Penalties for Violating Hajj Permit Rules

Pilgrims are seen at the Hajj last year. (EPA)
Pilgrims are seen at the Hajj last year. (EPA)
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Saudi Interior Ministry Enforces Penalties for Violating Hajj Permit Rules

Pilgrims are seen at the Hajj last year. (EPA)
Pilgrims are seen at the Hajj last year. (EPA)

Colonel Talal bin Shalhoub, Spokesman for the Saudi Ministry of Interior, announced that penalties are now being implemented against those performing Hajj, entering, or staying in Makkah and the holy sites without a permit. He made the remarks during a session at the Digital Communication Conference.
The Spokesman stated that anyone caught performing Hajj without a permit, or entering or staying in Makkah or the holy sites on a visit visa, faces a fine of up to SAR20000, the Saudi Press Agency reported Thursday.
He added that anyone facilitating these violations—such as applying for visas, transporting, sheltering, concealing, or otherwise assisting violators—faces a fine of up to SAR100000.
Fines are applied per individual violation. Residents or overstayers caught attempting to perform Hajj without a permit will be deported and banned from the Kingdom for 10 years, he noted.
Bin Shalhoub also warned against fraudulent Hajj schemes that falsely promise services such as accommodation, transport, surrogate Hajj services, sacrificial animals, or fake bracelets.
He also highlighted the ongoing "Makkah Route" initiative, part of the Pilgrim Experience Program under Saudi Vision 2030, operating at 11 airports in 7 countries. Launched in 1438 AH (2017 AD), the initiative has served 940,657 pilgrims.