COMESA Supports Saudi Arabia's Bid to Host Expo 2030

Advisor at the Saudi Royal Court Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Qattan  poses for a photo with COMESA officials in Lusaka. (SPA)
Advisor at the Saudi Royal Court Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Qattan poses for a photo with COMESA officials in Lusaka. (SPA)
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COMESA Supports Saudi Arabia's Bid to Host Expo 2030

Advisor at the Saudi Royal Court Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Qattan  poses for a photo with COMESA officials in Lusaka. (SPA)
Advisor at the Saudi Royal Court Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Qattan poses for a photo with COMESA officials in Lusaka. (SPA)

The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa Organization (COMESA) received at its headquarters in Lusaka, Zambia, Advisor at the Saudi Royal Court Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Qattan, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Friday.

Discussions talks Saudi-African relations and ways to develop and strengthen them in various fields.

Qattan stressed the Saudi leadership's keenness on boosting its ties with all African countries and in various fields that serve common interests.

He highlighted the two summits that Riyadh will host this year: the inaugural Saudi-African Summit and the fifth Arab-African Summit.

He stressed that the Saudi-African Summit confirms the Saudi government's keenness to strengthen the partnership with all African countries.

Qattan added that the Kingdom is looking forward to hosting Expo 2030 in Riyadh, lauding the support the Kingdom has received from African countries.

COMESA's Assistant Secretary General in charge of Finance and Administration, Dave Haman praised Saudi Arabia for hosting the upcoming summits, underscoring its tireless efforts in strengthening its relations with all African countries.

Haman announced COMESA's full support for the Kingdom's hosting of Expo 2030, stressing that the Kingdom has great capabilities to hold such a landmark global event.

In remarks to SPA, Qattan said the organization's support reflects the depth of relations between the Kingdom and members of COMESA.



Saudi Crown Prince, French President Hold Extensive Talks in Riyadh

In this photo provided by the Saudi Royal Palace, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, meets with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Royal Palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Monday, Dec. 2, 2024. (Saudi Royal Palace via AP)
In this photo provided by the Saudi Royal Palace, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, meets with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Royal Palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Monday, Dec. 2, 2024. (Saudi Royal Palace via AP)
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Saudi Crown Prince, French President Hold Extensive Talks in Riyadh

In this photo provided by the Saudi Royal Palace, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, meets with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Royal Palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Monday, Dec. 2, 2024. (Saudi Royal Palace via AP)
In this photo provided by the Saudi Royal Palace, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, meets with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Royal Palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Monday, Dec. 2, 2024. (Saudi Royal Palace via AP)

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, received in Riyadh on Monday French President Emmanuel Macron.

They held extensive bilateral talks, tackling relations between the Kingdom and France, along with efforts to bolster cooperation in various fields.

They discussed opportunities to invest in available resources in both countries to achieve mutual interests. They reviewed regional and international developments and issues of common concern.

Following the meeting, Crown Prince Mohammed and Macron witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the formation of the Strategic Partnership Council between the governments of Saudi Arabia and France.

In this photo provided by the Saudi Royal Palace, French President Emmanuel Macron is welcomed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, right, at the Royal Palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Monday, Dec. 2, 2024. (Saudi Royal Palace via AP)

The MoU was signed by Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot.

Macron had arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday on a three-day visit. He will attend the One Water Summit on Tuesday on the sidelines of the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP16) in Riyadh.

Organized by France, Kazakhstan, and the World Bank in partnership with Saudi Arabia, the Summit aims to accelerate action on SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation) and incubate innovative solutions in preparation for the next UN Water Conference in 2026.