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Beijing Welcomes Improvement of Saudi-Iranian Relations

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi with the heads of the two negotiating delegations, Saudi Dr. Musaed Al-Aiban and Iranian Ali Shamkhani, after signing the agreement document on March 10 (Reuters)
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi with the heads of the two negotiating delegations, Saudi Dr. Musaed Al-Aiban and Iranian Ali Shamkhani, after signing the agreement document on March 10 (Reuters)
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Beijing Welcomes Improvement of Saudi-Iranian Relations

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi with the heads of the two negotiating delegations, Saudi Dr. Musaed Al-Aiban and Iranian Ali Shamkhani, after signing the agreement document on March 10 (Reuters)
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi with the heads of the two negotiating delegations, Saudi Dr. Musaed Al-Aiban and Iranian Ali Shamkhani, after signing the agreement document on March 10 (Reuters)

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday expressed Beijing’s satisfaction with the steps taken by Saudi Arabia and Iran to improve relations and lead a “wave of reconciliation” in the Middle East, since the Chinese-brokered agreement five months ago.

China “appreciates the correct decision made by the Iranian side,” Wang Yi said in a statement on Monday, adding that Beijing would continue to support the Middle East countries to explore development, in line with their own national conditions.

The minister pointed to the stalled negotiations between Iran and major powers on reviving the 2015 nuclear deal. He believed that only by returning to the comprehensive and effective implementation of the nuclear deal can a fundamental solution to the Iranian nuclear issue be reached, Reuters reported.

Wang Yi directly supervised the intense Saudi-Iranian negotiations that took place in March, between Dr. Musaed Al-Aiban, Minister of State and member of the Council of Ministers, and Ali Shamkhani, former Secretary-General of the Iranian National Security Council, under the initiative of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The Chinese foreign minister’s statement came hours after a phone call between Wang Yi and his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, on the memorandum of comprehensive cooperation between the two sides. The Iranian Foreign Ministry quoted Amir-Abdollahian as saying that the comprehensive plan for cooperation between Iran and China for a period of 25 years “is on the right track.”

The agreement came days after Amir-Abdollahian’s visit to Saudi Arabia, the first by a senior Iranian official to Riyadh after 7 years of diplomatic rupture between the two countries.

China played a pivotal role in signing the agreement to resume relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said in a press conference on Monday that the Saudi-Iranian joint economic committee would convene soon, noting that the two sides discussed trade and customs cooperation.

He added that discussions between Prince Mohammad bin Salman and Amir-Abdollahian were “diverse, detailed and positive”, adding that the talks were progressing and could represent a new horizon in Iranian-Saudi relations.

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Saudi Arabia Launches Medical Volunteering Program in Over 20 Specialties to Support Syria

 A Saudi delegation from KSrelief tours Syrian hospitals (SANA)
 A Saudi delegation from KSrelief tours Syrian hospitals (SANA)
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Saudi Arabia Launches Medical Volunteering Program in Over 20 Specialties to Support Syria

 A Saudi delegation from KSrelief tours Syrian hospitals (SANA)
 A Saudi delegation from KSrelief tours Syrian hospitals (SANA)

The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) has announced a call for Saudi medical professionals to volunteer their expertise to support Syria’s health sector, addressing urgent needs across more than 20 specialties. This initiative is part of the Saudi “Amal” (Hope) Volunteer Program, aimed at meeting the healthcare needs of crisis-affected countries.
The center invited specialists interested in volunteering to register for the year-long program, which seeks to provide emergency and medical services across various fields to alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people through the contributions of medical volunteers.
Dr. Samer Al-Jutaili, KSrelief’s spokesperson, stated that the center’s external volunteering platform allows professionals to register in critical medical specialties to aid Syria’s health sector, particularly during this challenging humanitarian crisis.
In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Al-Jutaili explained that the required specialties were determined in coordination with Syrian health authorities. He emphasized that the program aims to mobilize Saudi medical volunteers to address the health sector’s needs across all Syrian regions. He also praised the dedication of Saudi medical professionals, who have made significant international contributions through the program, supporting humanitarian efforts in 57 countries with over 200,000 operations across various specialties.
KSrelief announced that the “Amal” program was launched under the directives of King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, reflecting Saudi Arabia’s leadership in humanitarian efforts globally. The initiative seeks to deliver emergency and medical services to reduce human suffering and promote a dignified life with the participation of highly skilled Saudi volunteers.
In parallel with the volunteer program, Saudi Arabia continues its air and land relief operations for Syria. The sixth relief plane from KSrelief arrived in Damascus on Sunday, carrying food, medical supplies, and shelter materials to support the Syrian population during these challenging times.
Additionally, the first convoy of Saudi relief trucks crossed the Jordanian Jaber border on Sunday en route to Syria. The convoy included 60 trucks loaded with over 541 tons of food, medical supplies, and shelter materials as part of Saudi Arabia’s land relief initiative for Syria.
Al-Jutaili noted that the land bridge will complement efforts to distribute aid across Syrian territories, including heavy medical equipment such as MRI, X-ray, and CT scan machines that cannot be transported by air. He emphasized that the Saudi aid bridge to Damascus would ensure comprehensive coverage of Syria’s urgent needs, offering critical support to hospitals and healthcare facilities across the country.