Deputizing for Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Saudi Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Engineer Waleed bin Abdulkarim Al-Khuraiji took part in the 19th Asia Cooperation Dialogue Ministerial Meeting in Iran on Monday, SPA reported.
In his address, Al-Khuraiji emphasized the need to increase joint efforts and enhance cooperation and coordination to address various challenges, including conflicts, food security, and energy security.
He noted that Israel continues its military operations in Gaza, resulting in numerous casualties, including children, women, and the elderly. Al-Khuraiji warned that the continuation of these military operations threatens regional security and could lead to a broader conflict, which the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia had previously cautioned against due to the ongoing occupation and denial of the Palestinian people's legitimate rights.
Al-Khuraiji urged an immediate halt to Israeli military operations, protection of civilians, facilitation of humanitarian aid delivery, and intensified efforts to achieve a just and lasting solution to the Palestinian issue, including the establishment of an independent state for the Palestinian people with its capital in east Jerusalem within the 1967 borders.
The vice minister of foreign affairs reaffirmed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's commitment to continued coordination between countries and the development and expansion of cooperation in various areas, including economic development, technology, trade, investment, regional security, energy, and culture.
He also emphasized the Kingdom's belief in enhancing cooperation in emerging fields and challenges, such as the climate change crisis, and strengthening cooperation in the governance of artificial intelligence (AI) and new technologies globally. Al-Khuraiji highlighted the significance of collective efforts within multilateral frameworks to reduce tensions, promote dialogue, and encourage joint action.
On the sidelines of the event, Al-Khuraiji held separate talks with Korea Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Political Affairs Chung Byung-won and Uzbekistan Deputy Foreign Minister Bahram Aliyev.
During the separate meetings, the officials reviewed relations between the Kingdom and their countries, as well as regional and international developments of common interest.
