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Gulf

Saudi Arabia and China Sign MoUs

Saudi Crown Prince and China’s Vice Premier (SPA)
Saudi Crown Prince and China’s Vice Premier (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia and China Sign MoUs

Saudi Crown Prince and China’s Vice Premier (SPA)
Saudi Crown Prince and China’s Vice Premier (SPA)

Saudi Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met on Thursday with China’s Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli at al-Salam Palace in Jeddah.

The Crown Prince welcomed the Vice Premier of the State Council of the Republic of China and his accompanying delegation's visit to the Kingdom, wishing them a good stay.

For his part, the Chinese official expressed his joy to visit the Kingdom and hold meetings with the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Crown Prince.

The two officials chaired a meeting of the Saudi-Chinese High-level Joint Committee during which they discussed bilateral cooperation concerning political, security, commercial, energy, investment, cultural and technical fields. They also discussed the latest regional and international developments at the international level and the efforts of each country towards them.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a partnership project for the development of desalination projects using high-temperature and gas-chilled reactors in the Kingdom, was co-signed by Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Company for Development and Technical Investment Prince Turki bin Saud bin Mohammed and Deputy Director General of the Chinese Nuclear Engineering Company Zu Bin.

Saudi Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources Khaled al-Falih and Chinese Vice-Chairman of the State Development and Reform Commission Ning Ji-Cha co-signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a joint investment fund.

Another MoU on media cooperation between Saudi and Chinese media authorities was co-signed by Saudi Minister of Culture and Information Awwad al-Awwad and Chinese Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Li Hwa Chin.

China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) and Geological Survey signed an MoU to further strengthen cooperation between the two sides in exploring and assessing the sources of uranium and thorium. It was co-signed by Chairman of the Geological Survey Department Zuhair Nawab and General Director of China's National Nuclear Industry Corporation (CNNC) Chiang Chi Min.

The five-year plan for joint action for the mechanism of enhancing cooperation and mutual commercial visits between the Ministry of Commerce and Investment of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Trade of the Peoples' Republic of China was co-signed by acting Undersecretary of Foreign Trade Abdulrahman al-Harbi and Deputy Minister of Trade Fotsi Ying.

Chairman of the board of SADCO and Vice President of Saudi Aramco Yasser Mufti, CEO of the Royal Commission for Jubal and Yanbu Alaa Naseef, and chairman of the board of Gwangin for Developing International Investments Company Ltd Chang Lin Chang signed a memorandum on the establishment of Saudi Silk Road company for industrial services to encourage investment in Jazan.

A memorandum of understanding was co-signed between China Posts and Saudi Post corporation by Acting President of Saudi Post Osama Altaf and China's Ambassador to the Kingdom Li Hwa Chin.

A memorandum of understanding was agreed upon between Petro Rabiah Refinery and Taida company for strategic cooperation on developing and administering industrial areas. It was co-signed by Vice-President of Petro Rabigh Refinery Company for Industrial Relations Bassam Bukhari and the Director General of Taida Company for Industrial Parks Guanchoya Bin.

The signing ceremony was attended by minister of commerce and investment Majed al-Gasbi, Minister of Foreign Affairs Adel bin Ahmed al-Jubeir, Minister of Finance Mohammed al-Jadaan, Counselor at the Secretariat General of the Cabinet Ahmed al-Khateb, Counselor at the Secretariat General of the Cabinet Yasser al-Ramyan, Deputy Interior Minister Ahmed Al-Salem, Assistant Minister of Defense Mohammed al-Ayesh, Turki Al-Madhi, Saudi Ambassador to China, and a number of officials.

The official delegation accompanying the Chinese senior official was also present at the event.

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Gulf

Saudi Defense Minister: Time for STC to Withdraw from Yemen's Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Defense Minister: Time for STC to Withdraw from Yemen's Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman said on Saturday it “was time for the Southern Transitional Council in Yemen to listen to reason and prioritize public interest and unity of ranks and respond to the Saudi-Emirati mediation to end the escalation.”

In a post on the X platform, he called on the STC to withdraw its forces from the eastern Hadhramaut and al-Mahra provinces and restore control to the National Shield and local authorities.

Prince Khalid said Saudi Arabia formed the Arab coalition to restore legitimacy in Yemen to help the country reclaim control over all of its territories.

The liberation of southern provinces was a pivotal development towards that goal, he stressed.

Saudi Arabia “views the southern issue as fundamental” to Yemen and it will not “exploit it in conflicts that do not serve” the nation, he added.

The Kingdom had brought together all Yemeni components to the Riyadh conference to come up with a clear path for a comprehensive political solution, including the southern issue, he went on to say.

The conference paved the way for a “just solution to their cause through dialogue and without the use of forces.”

“Saudi Arabia approved the decision to move the base of power so that the southerners could have a greater role in state institutions. It consolidated partnership instead of elimination or imposing a status quo through forces. Saudi Arabia also presented Yemen with economic support, as well as development and humanitarian initiatives that helped ease the suffering of the people,” Prince Khalid added.

“Saudi Arabia and its partners in the coalition offered sacrifices with their Yemeni brothers in liberating Aden and other provinces,” he noted. “The Kingdom has always sought that these sacrifices be made in the name of reclaiming territories and restoring the state, not as a path towards new conflicts.”

It had hoped that these sacrifices would have been “invested in the security of all Yemeni people, not exploited for petty gains, whereby the unfortunate developments in Hadhramaut and al-Mahra since the beginning of December 2025 have led to the division in ranks that should be united against the enemy.”

“The developments have laid waste to the sacrifices of our sons and Yemeni people and have harmed the just southern issue,” stressed Prince Khalid.

He noted that several southern leaderships and figures have exhibited “awareness and wisdom in supporting efforts to end the escalation in Hadhramaut and al-Mahra and prevent the secure southern provinces from being dragged into futile conflicts.”

“They are aware of the major challenges facing Yemen and will not allow saboteurs to achieve their goals in the country and the region,” he remarked.

He declared that the “southern issue will remain part of any comprehensive political solution. The cause will not be neglected or marginalized. It should be resolved through consensus, adhering to commitments and building trust between all Yemeni segments, not through adventures that only serve everyone's enemy.”

Gulf

Arab Coalition: We Will Deal with Military Moves that Violate De-escalation Efforts

Coalition spokesman Brigadier General Turki al-Malki. (SPA)
Coalition spokesman Brigadier General Turki al-Malki. (SPA)
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Arab Coalition: We Will Deal with Military Moves that Violate De-escalation Efforts

Coalition spokesman Brigadier General Turki al-Malki. (SPA)
Coalition spokesman Brigadier General Turki al-Malki. (SPA)

Spokesman of the Arab coalition to support legitimacy in Yemen Brigadier General Turki al-Malki said on Saturday that “any military moves that violate de-escalation efforts will be dealt with directly to protect lives and ensure the success of Saudi and Emirati efforts.”

The statement is in response to a request by Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Dr. Rashad al-Alimi, who called for immediate steps to protect civilians in the eastern Hadhramaut and al-Mahra provinces in wake of the “grave and horrific” violations by members of the Southern Transitional Council (STC).

It is also in continuation of the strenuous joint efforts by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to de-escalate the situation and ensure the withdrawal of STC forces, who have been demanded to cede control to the National Shield forces and allow the local authorities to carry out their duties.

Malki underlined the Arab coalition’s continued firm support for the legitimate Yemeni government.

He also urged all sides to assume their national responsibility, exercise restraint and comply with efforts to reach peaceful solutions that preserve security and stability.

Gulf

Saudi Arabia Carries out Warning Strike on Yemen’s Hadhramaut, STC Says ‘Open to Coordination’

Southern forces patrol during a rally calling for South Yemen's independence, in the southern port city of Aden, Yemen, 25 December 2025. (EPA)
Southern forces patrol during a rally calling for South Yemen's independence, in the southern port city of Aden, Yemen, 25 December 2025. (EPA)
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Saudi Arabia Carries out Warning Strike on Yemen’s Hadhramaut, STC Says ‘Open to Coordination’

Southern forces patrol during a rally calling for South Yemen's independence, in the southern port city of Aden, Yemen, 25 December 2025. (EPA)
Southern forces patrol during a rally calling for South Yemen's independence, in the southern port city of Aden, Yemen, 25 December 2025. (EPA)

Saudi Arabia called for calm in eastern Yemen, urging an end to unilateral military moves and for the Southern Transitional Council (STC) forces to return to their former positions outside of the Hadhramaut and al-Mahra provinces.

Riyadh, meanwhile, demonstrated its stance on the ground by carrying out a warning air strike, informed sources told Asharq Al-Awsat.

The strike sought to deliver a message that it will not allow a new status quo to be imposed on the ground by force and that it will not allow the violation of institutional frameworks that handle security in the eastern provinces.

It warned that any further escalation will be met with firmer measures.

Meanwhile, the STC, in an attempt to justify its military moves, said they were in “response to calls from residents of the south” and an attempt to confront terrorist threats and block Houthi smuggling routes.

The STC added that it was “open to any coordination or arrangements with Saudi Arabia”, questioning the airstrike, which it said “does not serve understandings.”

Observers told Asharq Al-Awsat that Saudi Arabia will welcome the coordination and arrangements if they helped end the escalation, led to the withdrawal of the STC and allowed the National Shield forces and the local authority to take over Hadhramaut and al-Mahra without needing to resort to force.

They stressed that the strike will lead to delivering the clear message that Riyadh may impose red lines by force to prevent any escalation.

Sourced told Asharq Al-Awsat that any future settlement over restoring the unity of Yemeni ranks will condition a return to the former status quo.