UAE, S.Korea Leaders Discuss Cooperation Relations, Strategic Projects

UAE's President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan with President of South Korea Yoon Suk Yeol (WAM)
UAE's President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan with President of South Korea Yoon Suk Yeol (WAM)
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UAE, S.Korea Leaders Discuss Cooperation Relations, Strategic Projects

UAE's President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan with President of South Korea Yoon Suk Yeol (WAM)
UAE's President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan with President of South Korea Yoon Suk Yeol (WAM)

UAE's President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan discussed with the President of South Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol, opportunities to develop strategic cooperation to broader horizons in various fields within the framework of the Special Strategic Partnership.

Sheikh Mohammed met with the President of Korea, who is on a multi-day visit to the UAE, his first visit since assuming his presidential duties. They also engaged in an in-depth exchange of views on regional and international issues.

They discussed various tracks of cooperation and developments in investment, economic, scientific, cultural, and advanced technology, in addition to renewable energy and other vital areas of interest for both countries.

Sheikh Mohammed said UAE and Korea have a close strategic partnership that extended back over forty years and rose to a unique strategic alliance in 2018. He lauded the level of collaboration between the two countries.

He referred to one of the most important strategic development projects, the peaceful nuclear energy production project at the Barakah plant.

The UAE aims to expand and strengthen its relations with Korea during the coming period in areas of common interest, including traditional energy, clean energy, economy, investment, defense technology, and others.

For his part, the Korean President stressed the importance of boosting strategic cooperation in key areas, including peaceful nuclear energy, energy, investment, and defense industries, to develop prospects for bilateral relations.

The two parties witnessed the exchange and announcement of several agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoU) to develop cooperation in various fields considering the distinguished strategic ties binding the two countries.

The agreements and MoUs announced included an MoU in hydrogen energy use in cities, its production, transmission, and storage between the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure and the Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport.

An MoU was exchanged between the UAE Space Agency and Korea's Ministry of Science and Information and Communications Technology regarding the amendment of an MoU signed in January 2017 regarding cooperation in space exploration and its use for peaceful purposes.

The two countries also signed an MoU on cooperation in water resources between the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure and the Korean Ministry of Environment.

It also included implementation arrangements under the agreement concluded between the two governments for cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

The Mubadala Investment Company and the Korea Development Bank signed an MoU regarding the "sovereign investment partnership" and another MoU on financial cooperation between TAQA and the Export-Import Bank of Korea.

The meetings also witnessed a joint declaration between the two governments regarding enhancing cooperation in energy through a strategic energy partnership.

They also signed agreements on strategic cooperation for the defense industry and cooperation in crude oil storage for "strategic and commercial storage."

The two parties exchanged MoUs on establishing joint strategic working groups for the Carbon Neutrality Acceleration Program and another regarding the voluntary partnership in carbon markets in Asia.



Libya’s Unity Gov. Urges Stronger Partnership with Saudi Arabia on Development Projects

Abdul Hamid Dbeibah during his meeting with members of the Saudi delegation (Dbeibah's Office)
Abdul Hamid Dbeibah during his meeting with members of the Saudi delegation (Dbeibah's Office)
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Libya’s Unity Gov. Urges Stronger Partnership with Saudi Arabia on Development Projects

Abdul Hamid Dbeibah during his meeting with members of the Saudi delegation (Dbeibah's Office)
Abdul Hamid Dbeibah during his meeting with members of the Saudi delegation (Dbeibah's Office)

Libya’s Government of National Unity has called for strengthening partnerships with Saudi Arabia in development projects.

The appeal came during a meeting on Thursday between Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah and a high-level delegation from Saudi Arabia’s Amiantit Group.

The group is one of the world's leading companies in the manufacturing of pipes and tanks, offering innovative solutions for water management and infrastructure.

The meeting was also attended by a representative of Technical Link Services for Communications (TLS), a subsidiary of Etihad Salam Telecommunications, which specializes in communications and information technology solutions.

Discussions centered on strengthening Libyan-Saudi cooperation to advance infrastructure projects, stimulate investment in the industrial and agricultural sectors, and expand prospects for collaboration.

The meeting followed agreements with Libya’s Ministry of Housing and Construction on water infrastructure, specialized factories, and advanced water treatment solutions.

The agreements also included deals that aim to upgrade Libya’s communications infrastructure and modernize its IT and telecom services.

In January, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Dbeibah had outlined Libya’s vision to strengthen cooperation with Gulf countries, particularly Saudi Arabia to attract international investment across various economic and development sectors.

He discussed with several Saudi officials ways to reinforce bilateral partnerships in oil, gas, and renewable energy, highlighting Saudi Arabia as a key partner in developing Libya’s oil infrastructure.


Saudi-Emirati Team in Aden to Restore Calm in Eastern Yemen

A view of Yemen's interim capital Aden. (Reuters file)
A view of Yemen's interim capital Aden. (Reuters file)
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Saudi-Emirati Team in Aden to Restore Calm in Eastern Yemen

A view of Yemen's interim capital Aden. (Reuters file)
A view of Yemen's interim capital Aden. (Reuters file)

A Saudi-Emirati team arrived in Yemen’s interim capital Aden on an urgent mission to put in place executive mechanisms for the withdrawal of the Southern Transitional Council (STC) forces from the Hadhramaut and al-Mahra provinces and returning them under the control of previous forces under the direct supervision of the Saudi-led Arab coalition.

The team will discuss arrangements related to the handover of positions to the National Shield Forces to ensure that the situation returns to the way it was before the escalation.

The step is in line with Saudi Arabia’s intense efforts to end the escalation in eastern Yemen, in rejection of any unilateral measures taken by the STC in Hadhramaut, which the coalition viewed as an attempt to impose a new status quo or drag the province into internal strife that threatens peace and stability.

Sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the arrival of the team consolidates Riyadh’s rejection of activities that may create mistrust or deepen the divisions inside Yemen’s legitimate institutions.


UN Secretary General Visits Saudi Digital Government Authority's Innovation Hub in Riyadh

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres meets with officials at the Innovation Hub of the Digital Government Authority (DGA) in Riyadh on Friday. (SPA)
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres meets with officials at the Innovation Hub of the Digital Government Authority (DGA) in Riyadh on Friday. (SPA)
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UN Secretary General Visits Saudi Digital Government Authority's Innovation Hub in Riyadh

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres meets with officials at the Innovation Hub of the Digital Government Authority (DGA) in Riyadh on Friday. (SPA)
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres meets with officials at the Innovation Hub of the Digital Government Authority (DGA) in Riyadh on Friday. (SPA)

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and his accompanying delegation visited on Friday Saudi Arabia’s Innovation Hub of the Digital Government Authority (DGA) in Riyadh.

He met with DGA Governor Eng. Ahmed Alsuwaiyan. Saudi Arabia's Permanent Representative to the UN in New York Ambassador Dr. Abdulaziz Alwasil was also present during the visit.

The officials discussed issues of mutual interest, including digital government development, support for innovation, and the enhancement of sustainable digital transformation ecosystems. They reviewed the Kingdom's efforts in digital enablement to support the Sustainable Development Goals and improve government sector efficiency.

The meeting addressed avenues for cooperation between the DGA and UN organizations, particularly in knowledge exchange, the development of digital standards, the enablement of emerging technologies and artificial intelligence, the enhancement of digital capabilities, and the building of partnerships to improve the quality of digital services internationally.

Guterres was briefed on the DGA Innovation Hub, which houses a range of specialized laboratories and facilities, such as the Digital Inclusion Lab, Service Design Lab, Learning Experience Lab, and AI and Emerging Technologies Lab, along with other resources supporting innovation and the development of government digital solutions.

The DGA team presented an overview of the Kingdom's digital government strategy and progress in UN e-government development indicators, reflecting the maturity of the national digital experience and the advancement of the Kingdom's digital infrastructure.

Guterres commended the Kingdom's qualitative progress in digital government, stressing that the level achieved represents a leading international model and reflects a clear commitment to developing innovative and effective government services.

He emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation to support initiatives that foster an advanced digital future in service of global development.