Saudi Govt Briefed on Biden’s Visit to Kingdom

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz chairs a cabinet meeting in Jeddah on Tuesday. (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz chairs a cabinet meeting in Jeddah on Tuesday. (SPA)
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Saudi Govt Briefed on Biden’s Visit to Kingdom

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz chairs a cabinet meeting in Jeddah on Tuesday. (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz chairs a cabinet meeting in Jeddah on Tuesday. (SPA)

The Saudi cabinet was briefed on Tuesday on the visit paid to the Kingdom by US President Joe Biden in mid-July.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz chaired the meeting that was held at the al-Salam Palace in Jeddah.

Biden’s official two-day visit to the Kingdom included talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, and his attendance of the Gulf-Arab summit.

Biden and Saudi officials tackled the strategic partnership that binds Riyadh and Washington. American and Saudi officials signed 18 agreements during Biden’s visit.

The cabinet was also briefed on the messages received by King Salman from the leaders of Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, and Tajikistan and the telephone call Crown Prince Mohammed received from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The ministers hailed the achievements reached during the Kazak president’s visit to Saudi Arabia where he held talks with Crown Prince Mohammed.

Delegations from both countries signed agreements to expand their bilateral relations and cooperation in various fields.

The cabinet reviewed the outcomes of the meetings of the foreign and finance ministers and central bank governors of the G20, held in Bali, Indonesia.

It reiterated Saudi Arabia’s keenness to boost collective efforts aimed at building bridges with regional and international organizations, in order to increase the effectiveness of joint work towards inclusive and sustainable growth and recovery.

The cabinet highlighted Saudi Arabia’s presidency of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Donor Support Group between July 2022 and June 2023. The presidency consolidates the Kingdom’s position among the world’s leading countries in providing development and humanitarian aid.

The cabinet hailed the outcomes of the Five-Year Committee meeting on Yemen. The committee includes Saudi Arabia, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and US. The meeting stressed the importance of the continuation of the truce between the Yemeni parties, full support for the efforts of the United Nations Special Envoy and continued support for the UN humanitarian response plan.

Locally, the ministers stressed the state’s keenness on taking into consideration the neediest citizens as they face the impact of the global rise in prices.

They noted the state’s allocation of SR20 billion in financial support and measures to control the availability of products and price levels, protect and encourage fair competition, and combat and prevent monopolistic practices.

The cabinet applauded Crown Prince Mohammed’s announcement regarding the National Aspirations and Priorities for Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) for the next two decades.

The aspirations and priorities are: Health and Wellness; Sustainable Environment and Supply of Essential Needs; Energy and Industrial Leadership; and Economies of the Future. They will boost the Kingdom’s global competitiveness and leadership in line with Saudi Vision 2030, and strengthen the Kingdom's position as the largest economy in the region.

The cabinet highlighted the efforts of workers and volunteers in all governmental and private sectors, who contributed to the success of this year’s Hajj pilgrimage.



Saudi Arabia, Egypt Stress Need for Immediate Ceasefire in Lebanon, Gaza

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abduallah and his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty meet in Riyadh in August. (SPA)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abduallah and his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty meet in Riyadh in August. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia, Egypt Stress Need for Immediate Ceasefire in Lebanon, Gaza

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abduallah and his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty meet in Riyadh in August. (SPA)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abduallah and his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty meet in Riyadh in August. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia and Egypt stressed on Friday the need for an “immediate and permanent ceasefire in Lebanon and Gaza.”

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abduallah held telephone talks with his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty to discuss the situation in Lebanon and the Israeli escalation in the region, given the ongoing coordination and cooperation between Riyadh and Cairo.

An Egyptian foreign ministry spokesman said the FMs condemned the Israeli assault on Lebanon that has left hundreds dead and wounded.

He stressed Saudi Arabia and Egypt’s “full solidarity with Lebanon and its brotherly people during this crisis.”

They underlined the importance of offering all forms of humanitarian assistance to the people and enabling the state and all of its institutions to perform their duties and impose its sovereignty throughout the country.

The FMs expressed their categorical rejection of any measures that may impact Lebanon’s sovereignty across its territories.

Moreover, they warned that the prolongation of the escalation may have consequences on the people of the region.

Prince Faisal and Abdelatty called for the full implementation of United Nations Security Council resolution 1701 by all concerned parties.

Furthermore, the FMs called on the international community, especially the Security Council, to assume its responsibilities in reaching an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Lebanon and Gaza.

Saudi Arabia and Egypt will continue to coordinate to address the dangers in the Arab region caused by the Israeli assault against the Lebanese and Palestinian people.