Saudi Arabia Signs Energy MoUs with Egypt, Oman

The signing of the MoU between Saudi Arabia and Egypt (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The signing of the MoU between Saudi Arabia and Egypt (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Signs Energy MoUs with Egypt, Oman

The signing of the MoU between Saudi Arabia and Egypt (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The signing of the MoU between Saudi Arabia and Egypt (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia signed two separate memoranda of understanding in the energy field with Egypt and the Sultanate of Oman on Monday, on the sidelines of the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference and the second edition of the Green Middle East Initiative summit, which were held in the Egyptian city of Sharm el-Sheikh.

Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman and the Egyptian Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, Dr. Muhammad Shaker, signed an MoU for bilateral cooperation, which aims to enhance cooperation in the production and export of electricity from renewable energy, transport of clean hydrogen transport, and electrical interconnection.

The agreement also encourages digital transformation, innovation, cyber-security, and artificial intelligence, as well as the efforts to develop qualitative partnerships in localization, services and supply chains.

Moreover, the MoU supports joint research with universities, research centers and others, in addition to the holding of conferences, seminars and work sessions, as well as building human capacities through training and exchanging information and experiences, with the aim to deepen and expand cooperation between the two countries.

The Saudi minister of Energy and his Omani counterpart, Minister of Energy and Minerals Salem bin Nasser Al-Awfi, signed an MoU for energy cooperation, which includes strengthening cooperation in renewable energy, electricity, energy efficiency and hydrogen, applying the circular carbon economy approach to reduce the effects of climate change, and developing standards to support the use of sustainable materials.

The memorandum also encourages digital transformation, innovation, cooperation between specialized companies, and the development of qualitative partnerships for the localization of materials, products, services, supply chains and technologies, in all fields of energy.

The memorandum includes exchanging training courses and experts’ visits, and conducting scientific research on energy, which would contribute to strengthening cooperation between the two countries.



China Seeks to Bolster Ports and Aviation Hubs in Western Regions

The city skyline is reflected in a pool left on the dry riverbed of the receding Jialing river, a tributary of the Yangtze, that is approaching record-low water levels during a regional drought in Chongqing, China, August 20, 2022.  (Reuters)
The city skyline is reflected in a pool left on the dry riverbed of the receding Jialing river, a tributary of the Yangtze, that is approaching record-low water levels during a regional drought in Chongqing, China, August 20, 2022. (Reuters)
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China Seeks to Bolster Ports and Aviation Hubs in Western Regions

The city skyline is reflected in a pool left on the dry riverbed of the receding Jialing river, a tributary of the Yangtze, that is approaching record-low water levels during a regional drought in Chongqing, China, August 20, 2022.  (Reuters)
The city skyline is reflected in a pool left on the dry riverbed of the receding Jialing river, a tributary of the Yangtze, that is approaching record-low water levels during a regional drought in Chongqing, China, August 20, 2022. (Reuters)

China said on Sunday it would launch 15 measures to bolster the development of its western provinces with the construction of logistical infrastructure such as ports and aviation hubs.

The General Administration of Customs said the measures would enhance the integration of rail, air, river and sea links in China's west, state media reported.

The measures are to include enhancing international aviation hubs in cities including Chengdu, Chongqing, Kunming, Xi'an and Urumqi, while developing comprehensive bonded zones, and integrating these with ports and other transport links.

A number of ports would also be built and expanded.

China has long sought to bolster the economic heft of its western regions, which have markedly lagged coastal provinces.

China's western regions comprise around two-thirds of the country's land area and include regions such as Sichuan, Chongqing, Yunnan, Xinjiang and Tibet.

China's Politburo last year called for a "new urbanization" of western China to revitalize rural areas, expand poverty alleviation efforts and strengthen energy resources. Efforts have also been made to increase linkages to Europe and South Asia through trade corridors including rail freight routes.