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Saudi Arabia and Africa... Laying the Foundations for Continental Integration, Sustainable Future

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman delivers his speech at the opening of the summit (SPA)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman delivers his speech at the opening of the summit (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia and Africa... Laying the Foundations for Continental Integration, Sustainable Future

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman delivers his speech at the opening of the summit (SPA)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman delivers his speech at the opening of the summit (SPA)

The leaders of Saudi Arabia and African countries have affirmed their determination to develop cooperation and partnership and to lay the foundations for continental integration that charts a sustainable future for the countries and peoples of both regions.

Addressing the opening ceremony of the first Saudi-African summit in Riyadh on Friday, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced the launch of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ development initiative in Africa, which seeks to implement development projects and programs in the continent with a value exceeding one billion dollars over a period of ten years.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman pledged to pump more than $25 billion in new Saudi investments into various sectors, finance and secure $10 billion in exports, provide $5 billion in additional development financing to Africa until 2030, and increase the number of Saudi diplomatic missions in the continent to more than 40 embassies.

“The Kingdom and African countries are keen to enhance cooperation in a way that contributes to establishing security and peace in the region and the world,” the Saudi Crown Prince said.

Pointing to the war on Gaza, he stated: “We condemn the military aggression witnessed in the Gaza Strip, the targeting of civilians, and the continued violations of international humanitarian law by the Israeli occupation authority. Let us stress the need to stop this war and forced displacement, and create conditions for the return of stability and the achievement of peace.”

Prince Mohammed explained that the Kingdom and African countries support “all efforts aimed at achieving security and stability.”

He added: “In this regard, we welcome the resumption of the Jeddah talks with representatives of both sides of the crisis in Sudan, and we hope that the language of dialogue will be the basis for preserving the unity of the Republic of Sudan and the security of its people.”

The Crown Prince went on to say: “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has provided more than $45 billion to support development and humanitarian projects in 54 African countries.”

He added that the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center has offered more than $450 million in aid in 46 African countries.

“We are determined to deepen relations of cooperation and partnership with African countries and develop areas of trade and integration,” Prince Mohammed said.

“From this standpoint, we are pleased to announce the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ development initiative in Africa, by launching development projects and programs with a value exceeding one billion dollars over a period of 10 years.”

For his part, Moussa Mahamat, Commissioner of the African Union, touched on the spiritual, historical, cultural, economic and commercial ties between Africa and Saudi Arabia, which he said were translated by bilateral relations between the Kingdom and a large number of members of the African Union.

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Iranian Official to Asharq Al-Awsat: Committed to Peace and Stability with Saudi Arabia

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi (Reuters)
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi (Reuters)
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Iranian Official to Asharq Al-Awsat: Committed to Peace and Stability with Saudi Arabia

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi (Reuters)
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi (Reuters)

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi reaffirmed Iran and Saudi Arabia’s mutual determination to establish lasting peace and stability in the region.
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat during his visit to Riyadh, Ravanchi emphasized that achieving this goal requires sustained bilateral and regional cooperation to address current threats and build a foundation for prosperity and security.
During his meetings with the Saudi Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Eng. Waleed ElKhereiji, Ravanchi discussed strengthening bilateral relations in political, economic, and consular fields, and explored key regional and international issues.
He described Saudi-Iranian efforts as a “successful model of bilateral and multilateral cooperation,” aimed at fostering peace, security, and development on both regional and international levels. Ravanchi underscored the importance of historical ties and the principle of good neighborliness as the basis for advancing this relationship.
Following the second meeting of the Saudi-Chinese-Iranian trilateral committee in Riyadh, both Saudi Arabia and Iran reiterated their full commitment to implementing the Beijing Agreement, according to a statement by the Saudi foreign ministry. The accord, mediated by China, aims to restore diplomatic ties and promote mutual respect for sovereignty and security in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and international law.
China praised the progress achieved since the agreement’s signing, including the reopening of embassies and increased bilateral engagement. It pledged to continue supporting Saudi-Iranian efforts to deepen their cooperation and maintain regional stability.
Ravanchi, who previously served as Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations and was a member of the Iranian nuclear negotiating team with the P5+1, described the atmosphere of the meetings as “cordial and transparent.” He added that the three nations exchanged views on topics of mutual interest and stressed the importance of continuing this “positive and forward-looking process.” He also revealed “constructive and friendly” meetings held by the Iranian delegation with their Saudi hosts and Chinese counterparts, during which they discussed enhancing bilateral and trilateral cooperation and reviewed developments in relations over the past year.
One significant development has been the improvement in consular services. Over 87,000 Iranian pilgrims performed Hajj, and more than 52,000 completed Umrah in the past year, demonstrating enhanced coordination. Additionally, the first meeting of the Saudi-Iranian Joint Media Committee and the signing of an MoU between Saudi Arabia’s Prince Saud Al-Faisal Institute for Diplomatic Studies and Iran’s Institute for Political and International Studies further strengthened institutional ties.
The trilateral meeting also tackled pressing regional challenges, particularly the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The participants condemned Israel’s aggression in Palestine, Lebanon, and Iran, calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the continuation of humanitarian aid to affected regions. They warned that ongoing violence poses significant risks to regional and global security, including threats to maritime safety.
On Yemen, the parties reiterated their support for a comprehensive political solution under United Nations auspices. They emphasized the importance of dialogue and diplomacy to achieve lasting peace in the war-torn country.
Saudi-Iranian relations have undergone a remarkable transformation since the signing of the Beijing Agreement. The reopening of embassies, including Iran’s embassy in Riyadh in June after a seven-year hiatus, marked a turning point in their ties.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Consular Affairs Alireza Bigdeli described the day as a “historic milestone” in Saudi-Iranian relations. He expressed confidence that the renewed relationship would reach its peak, emphasizing that the restoration of ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia opens a new chapter in bilateral and regional relations, aimed at greater cooperation and stability.