Saudi Arabia, Cyprus Discuss Joint Cooperation, Combating Terrorism

Prince Faisal meets Cypriot officials in Nicosia. (SPA)
Prince Faisal meets Cypriot officials in Nicosia. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia, Cyprus Discuss Joint Cooperation, Combating Terrorism

Prince Faisal meets Cypriot officials in Nicosia. (SPA)
Prince Faisal meets Cypriot officials in Nicosia. (SPA)

Cyprus' President Nicos Anastasiades held talks in Nicosia on Sunday with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah.

Discussions focused on cooperation between their countries and ways to develop it in all fields.

They also tackled elevating relations to broader horizons in line with the Kingdom's Vision 2030 and to achieve the prosperity of both their countries and peoples.

The covered regional and international issues of interest and the efforts exerted towards them.

They stressed the need to intensify international efforts to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and to transform the Middle East into a region that is free of weapons of mass destruction.

Prince Faisal also met his Cypriot counterpart, Ioannis Kasoulides, for talks on bilateral relations and ways to bolster them. They also discussed the importance of boosting investments between their countries.

Their talks covered bilateral and security cooperation and relations between Saudi Arabia and the European Union and the importance of developing them in all fields.

They addressed the Kingdom's role in preserving the environment through its Middle East Green and Saudi Green initiatives.

On regional developments, they underlined the importance of supporting all efforts aimed at ending the Iran-backed Houthi militias' humanitarian violations against the Yemen people.

They covered Saudi Arabia and Cyprus' efforts in combating terrorism and extremism in all their forms.

Saudi Arabia views Cyprus as a "bridge" between the Middle East and the EU, helping the 27-nation bloc "understand what’s going on" in the region, Prince Faisal said.

He stressed both his country and Cyprus have a "very, very strong alignment" regarding regional stability and terrorism "whether it is (Yemen's) Houthis or others."

He said both countries agree in the primacy of international law.

"If we do not all agree that international law is the primary guide of state relations, we risk the instability for all," the FM said. "I think it's important that we all stand together to defend the primacy of international law or state sovereignty, a rejection of interventionism of all sorts."



Saudi Industry, Mineral Resources Minister Begins Official Visit to France

Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef. (SPA file photo)
Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef. (SPA file photo)
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Saudi Industry, Mineral Resources Minister Begins Official Visit to France

Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef. (SPA file photo)
Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef. (SPA file photo)

Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef, leading a high-level delegation from the industry and mining sector, began an official three-day visit to France on Monday, with scheduled stops in Paris, Marseille, and Toulouse.

The visit aims to strengthen bilateral economic ties and foster cooperation between Saudi Arabia and France in the industrial and mining sectors, as well as explore joint investment opportunities in key strategic areas that the Kingdom is prioritizing for localization, particularly the aviation and food industries.

Alkhorayef will hold a series of bilateral meetings with French government officials and leaders of prominent global French companies in the mining, aircraft manufacturing, and food sectors. The meetings will include discussions with Minister of Economy, Finance, and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty Eric Lombard, as well as the CEOs of Airbus, Safran, Orano, Sidel, Lesaffre, and the Bel Group.

The agenda includes expanding joint cooperation in the industrial and mining sectors, attracting high-quality investments to the Kingdom, and building effective partnerships to leverage the promising opportunities offered by Saudi Arabia’s specialized industrial clusters. The Kingdom's incentives and capabilities available to investors will also be highlighted.

Alkhorayef's visit will feature tours of Airbus's aircraft manufacturing plants in Marseille and Toulouse, providing insights into their industrial facilities and production lines.

The visit is also expected to include the signing of memoranda of understanding with French companies to encourage joint investments, facilitate the exchange of expertise, and promote knowledge transfer in promising industrial sectors.

Saudi Arabia and France maintain strong economic relations, with Saudi non-oil exports to France exceeding SAR1.91 billion in 2024, primarily consisting of machinery and electrical appliances, organic chemical products, and aluminum and its derivatives. French non-oil imports reached SAR18.2 billion in the same year, with essential oils, electrical appliances, and pharmaceutical products among the most significant import sectors.

Alkhorayef's visit to France aligns with the objectives of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which emphasizes developing international partnerships to boost the competitiveness of the Saudi industrial sector and transform the Kingdom into a leading global industrial power. This includes localizing advanced strategic industries such as aviation and food, attracting high-quality investments, and facilitating the transfer of knowledge, technology, and innovation in these areas.