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UN Coordinator: Partnership with Saudi Arabia in Sustainable Development Goals Focuses on 4 Strategic Areas

The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Saudi Arabia addressing the dialogue sessions in Riyadh on Monday (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Saudi Arabia addressing the dialogue sessions in Riyadh on Monday (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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UN Coordinator: Partnership with Saudi Arabia in Sustainable Development Goals Focuses on 4 Strategic Areas

The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Saudi Arabia addressing the dialogue sessions in Riyadh on Monday (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Saudi Arabia addressing the dialogue sessions in Riyadh on Monday (Asharq Al-Awsat)

United Nations Resident Coordinator in the Kingdom, Nathalie Fustier, said that partnership with Saudi Arabia was moving to a new stage, pointing to the progress achieved by the Kingdom in sustainable development.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, Fustier said that the UN partnership with the Saudi government has evolved over the years and continues today amid a new stage in the field of sustainable development, which will direct the general work of the international organization in the Kingdom from 2022 to 2026 to cooperate primarily through three elements of sustainable development.

Fustier participated in dialogue sessions between the UN and Saudi Arabia, in Riyadh on Monday, on ways to achieve Goal 17 of the Sustainable Development Goals, namely revitalizing the global partnership for sustainable development.

The UN official pointed to Saudi Arabia’s sustainable development priorities stipulated in Vision 2030, its efforts achieve the 2030 Agenda of the United Nations and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, and reform the UN development system through four strategic areas, including people, planet, prosperity and peace.

In this regard, she stressed the need to combine the efforts of all sectors and segments of society in order to attain the required change and achieve the goals of sustainable development.

Fustier said that the UN partnerships with the Kingdom have expanded in recent years in all sectors, including the strategic partnership with government agencies, the private and educational sectors, in addition to civil society institutions.

She noted that through Vision 2030, the Kingdom was seeking to promote the renaissance of the Saudi economy to become one of the leading economies in the world.

The UN resident coordinator told Asharq Al-Awsat that the support her office received from the Saudi government and the relevant authorities was a great contribution to strengthening UN efforts towards achieving the sustainable development goals.

She added that the Kingdom has recently established the Steering Committee for Sustainable Development, which consists of 20 national bodies with the aim of coordinating governmental efforts and supervising performance to achieve the sustainable development goals.

As for the role of the private sector, Fustier pointed to the Saudi call on companies across the country to align their operations and strategies with ten comprehensive principles in the areas of human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption by joining the local network of the United Nations Global Compact, which has reached 46 members so far, with the support of the Ministry of Economy and Planning and the Federation of Chambers of Commerce.

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Saudi Arabia Urges Global Support for Two-State Solution Alliance

A group photo from the third Asia Cooperation Dialogue summit in Doha, Qatar (SPA)
A group photo from the third Asia Cooperation Dialogue summit in Doha, Qatar (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Urges Global Support for Two-State Solution Alliance

A group photo from the third Asia Cooperation Dialogue summit in Doha, Qatar (SPA)
A group photo from the third Asia Cooperation Dialogue summit in Doha, Qatar (SPA)

The ongoing Israeli war on Gaza and Lebanon, along with rising regional tensions, took center stage at the third Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) summit in Doha, which began on Thursday.
Saudi Arabia urged countries to back the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a key step toward resolving the Middle East crisis.
Speaking on behalf of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan attended the ACD summit and highlighted how continued violence in the region is disrupting international trade and fueling political tensions, which threaten investments and economic cooperation.
“The continuation of aggression and violations in the region hinder the movement of international trade and increase political tensions that threaten the flow of investments and economic cooperation between the countries of the region and the world,” he said.
He called for peaceful and diplomatic solutions to regional conflicts to ensure the region’s prosperity.
“We thank Asia Cooperation Dialogue countries for their support for the two-state solution and their recognition of the State of Palestine, and we urge the rest of the world to follow suit,” Prince Faisal said, reminding that the situation has prompted the Kingdom to work with “brothers and allies in establishing a Global Alliance to Implement the Two-State Solution.”
He stressed that the current unrest in Palestine and Lebanon is a major barrier to economic and commercial development in the region.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reaffirmed Iran’s continued support for resistance groups.
“The Zionist enemy will be punished, and we will keep supporting the resistance until Palestine is liberated,” said Pezeshkian.
Also speaking at the ACD summit, he emphasized: “Those who violate human rights must know that resistance is strong and cannot be eliminated.”
Pezeshkian reiterated Iran’s backing for Palestinian resistance.
After meeting with a Hamas delegation in Doha, Pezeshkian warned that Israel’s ongoing actions had led Iran’s military to deliver a decisive response.
“Israel couldn’t commit these crimes without backing from the US and Europe. If Israel makes any mistake against Iran, it will face a much stronger retaliation than Tuesday’s attack,” he said.
Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, denounced Israel’s actions in Gaza as “genocide” and warned of the consequences of not holding Israel accountable for its crimes against humanity.
Speaking at the summit, Sheikh Tamim said: “Qatar has long warned about the dangers of not addressing Israel’s crimes.”
He pointed to the escalating violence in Gaza, noting that true security can only be achieved through a just peace, which includes creating an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders.
He stressed that Qatar will continue to support the Palestinian people in their fight for their legitimate rights.
“Israel’s relentless attacks on civilians in Gaza and other occupied areas have killed over 41,000 innocent people. What’s happening is genocide, and Gaza is being made uninhabitable to force its residents out,” said Sheikh Tamim.
He also condemned Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon, accusing Israel of using international inaction to expand settlements in the West Bank and prepare for annexation.
“We believe in de-escalating tensions and respecting nations’ sovereignty,” he added, stressing that Israel is taking advantage of global silence to push its agenda in the West Bank and Lebanon.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas also called for urgent international intervention to stop Israeli aggression in Gaza and Lebanon.
He warned that Israel’s attacks have destroyed over 90% of Gaza’s infrastructure.
“Peace cannot coexist with occupation, genocide, and the denial of the Palestinian people’s rights,” Abbas reaffirmed at the ACD summit.