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Saudi Crown Prince Begins Asia Tour in South Korea

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz received by Prime Minister Han Duck-soo in Seoul (SPA)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz received by Prime Minister Han Duck-soo in Seoul (SPA)
    Bali - Seoul - Asharq Al-Awsat
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Saudi Crown Prince Begins Asia Tour in South Korea

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz received by Prime Minister Han Duck-soo in Seoul (SPA)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz received by Prime Minister Han Duck-soo in Seoul (SPA)

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz has held talks with South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo in Seoul. Discussions focused on bilateral relations, prospects for cooperation, and ways to develop and enhance them.

The Crown Prince began on Wednesday an official visit to South Korea, arriving from Indonesia, as part of his Asian tour that includes several countries.

An official reception ceremony was held for the Crown Prince, and the South Korean Prime Minister received him.

The talks were attended by Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, Minister of State Prince Turki bin Mohammed, Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud, Minister of National Guard Prince Abdullah bin Bandar, Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan.

The talks were also attended by State Minister and Adviser of National Security Musaed al-Aiban, Minister of Commerce and Acting Minister of Media Majid al-Qasabi, Minister of Investment Khalid al-Falih, Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal al-Ibrahim, the Governor of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), Yasir al-Rumayyan, the Secretary of the Crown Prince, Bandar al-Rasheed, Saudi Ambassador to Korea, Sami al-Sadhan, and the official Korean delegation.

The Crown Prince concluded his visit to Indonesia after chairing the Saudi delegation at the G20 Leaders Summit held in Bali. He was seen off at the Bali Ngurah Rai International Airport by Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Pandjaitan, Saudi Ambassador to Indonesia Essam bin Abed al-Thaqafi, and several officials.

After his departure, Prince Mohammed cabled Indonesian President Joko Widodo, appreciating the warm reception and generous hospitality he and the accompanying delegation received.

He congratulated the President for the success of hosting the summit and the positive outcomes reached during Indonesia's presidency, stressing the importance of the reached decisions that "we hope to greatly contribute to supporting cooperation among G20 countries and boosting the rates of global economic growth."

The Crown Prince announced that Saudi Arabia would sponsor the restoration of the Islamic Center in Jakarta after large parts of it were damaged by a fire last month.

His announcement affirms his keenness and interest in Islamic centers in all brotherly and friendly countries because of their significant role in raising young generations and spreading Islam's tolerance and message based on peace, moderation, and dialogue.

The Center covers an area of 109,435 square meters and consists of many facilities, including a mosque with an area of 2,200 square meters, which accommodates more than 20,000 worshipers, a research studies center, and a conference hall.

The Muslim World League (MWL) appreciated the Crown Prince's announcement on restoring the Islamic Center.

MWL Sec-Gen Mohammad al-Issa, on behalf of the League and its international academies, bodies, and councils, thanked the Saudi leadership.

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Conference in Kuwait Warns of Growing Influence of Extremist Groups in Conflict Zones

The High-Level International Conference on “Strengthening International Counter-Terrorism Cooperation and Building Agile Border Security Mechanisms – The Kuwait Phase of the Dushanbe Process” kicked off in Kuwait on Monday. (KUNA)
The High-Level International Conference on “Strengthening International Counter-Terrorism Cooperation and Building Agile Border Security Mechanisms – The Kuwait Phase of the Dushanbe Process” kicked off in Kuwait on Monday. (KUNA)
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Conference in Kuwait Warns of Growing Influence of Extremist Groups in Conflict Zones

The High-Level International Conference on “Strengthening International Counter-Terrorism Cooperation and Building Agile Border Security Mechanisms – The Kuwait Phase of the Dushanbe Process” kicked off in Kuwait on Monday. (KUNA)
The High-Level International Conference on “Strengthening International Counter-Terrorism Cooperation and Building Agile Border Security Mechanisms – The Kuwait Phase of the Dushanbe Process” kicked off in Kuwait on Monday. (KUNA)

Kuwait reiterated its commitment to working with the international community to tackle the growing threat of terrorism, highlighting the importance of strengthening global cooperation in this fight.

Meanwhile, the UN’s Counter-Terrorism Representative warned that the number of deaths from terrorist attacks is on the rise, with the latest Global Terrorism Index showing a 22% increase in fatalities in 2023.

Vladimir Voronkov, Under-Secretary-General of the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism, cautioned that conflict zones could become breeding grounds for terrorist groups like ISIS and al-Qaeda.

He spoke at the High-Level International Conference on “Strengthening International Counter-Terrorism Cooperation and Building Agile Border Security Mechanisms – The Kuwait Phase of the Dushanbe Process” that began in Kuwait on Monday.

Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid Al Sabah said: “We expect this phase of the Dushanbe Process to strengthen international efforts aimed at creating a secure and stable future for all.”

“Terrorism knows no borders and does not distinguish between countries or religions,” he noted.

The conference will conclude its work Tuesday, with the adoption of the “Kuwait Declaration” which will reflect the discussions and opinions of the participants and will serve as a guiding document for efforts to combat terrorism.

The Crown Prince urged collective action against terrorism and emphasized the need for unity in facing this challenge. He stressed that terrorism and violent extremism are not linked to any religion, culture, or ethnic group.

He also highlighted the critical role of the UN’s Counter-Terrorism Program and the UN Counter-Terrorism Center in boosting border security, providing member states with the necessary expertise to develop comprehensive strategies that integrate counter-terrorism measures.

This approach is vital for effectively addressing emerging threats at borders.

At the conference's opening session, Voronkov stressed that international cooperation in fighting terrorism should guide all parties toward effective coordination and collaboration to secure their countries and prevent terrorist movements across borders.

Voronkov pointed out that the global security situation is changing, with terrorists exploiting border vulnerabilities. Recent reports show that more than 40% of violent incidents and 10% of deaths from political violence occur within 100 kilometers of land borders.

He specifically noted the growing terrorist presence in coastal West African countries like Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, and Togo, mentioning that violent incidents in border areas have surged by 250% over the past two years.

He also highlighted that the latest Global Terrorism Index indicates a 22% rise in global terrorism-related deaths in 2023, reaching 8,352—the highest number since 2017.

Voronkov cautioned that the travel routes used by groups like ISIS and al-Qaeda pose significant risks, especially in conflict-affected regions like the Sahel, where they can recruit and move individuals across poorly secured borders.