Saudi, Chinese Defense Ministers Discuss Bolstering Strategic Partnership

The Saudi and Chinese delegations meet in Beijing on Tuesday. (Saudi Defense Minister on X)
The Saudi and Chinese delegations meet in Beijing on Tuesday. (Saudi Defense Minister on X)
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Saudi, Chinese Defense Ministers Discuss Bolstering Strategic Partnership

The Saudi and Chinese delegations meet in Beijing on Tuesday. (Saudi Defense Minister on X)
The Saudi and Chinese delegations meet in Beijing on Tuesday. (Saudi Defense Minister on X)

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz held talks in Beijing on Tuesday with his Chinese counterpart Lieutenant General Dong Jun as part of his official visit to China.

The officials discussed bilateral relations between their countries and means to bolster them within the framework of their strategic defense partnership to meet common interests and the aspirations of the Saudi and Chinese leaderships.

They also discussed joint coordination efforts to preserve international peace and security.

The meeting was attended by Saudi Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen. Fayyad bin Hamid Al-Ruwaili, Saudi Ambassador to China Abdulrahman bin Ahmed Al-Harbi; Commander of the Strategic Missile Force Lt. Gen. Jarallah bin Mohammed Al-Alweet, Director General of the Office of the Minister of Defense Hisham bin Abdulaziz bin Saif, head of the Armed Forces Operations Authority Maj. Gen. Misfer Al-Ghanem, and Military Attaché at the Saudi Embassy in Beijing Commodore Salem bin Saleh Al-Maliki.

The Chinese delegation at the talks included Deputy Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Central Military Commission Lt. Gen. Jing Jianfeng, Director of the Office of International Military Cooperation at the Central Military Commission Maj. Gen. Li Bin, and several other senior officials.

Earlier, Prince Khalid met with China's Minister of National Defense, Admiral Dong Jun for discussions on ways to strengthen Saudi-Chinese relations as part of their strategic defense partnership.

They also tackled ways to boost defense and military cooperation and reviewed regional and international developments.



Qatar Urges Iran to 'Cease All Hostile Acts,’ Welcomes Ceasefire

FILED - 18 March 2026, Qatar, Doha: The Qatari Armed Forces launch interceptor missiles into the sky over Doha to intercept incoming Iranian missiles. Photo: Stringer/dpa
FILED - 18 March 2026, Qatar, Doha: The Qatari Armed Forces launch interceptor missiles into the sky over Doha to intercept incoming Iranian missiles. Photo: Stringer/dpa
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Qatar Urges Iran to 'Cease All Hostile Acts,’ Welcomes Ceasefire

FILED - 18 March 2026, Qatar, Doha: The Qatari Armed Forces launch interceptor missiles into the sky over Doha to intercept incoming Iranian missiles. Photo: Stringer/dpa
FILED - 18 March 2026, Qatar, Doha: The Qatari Armed Forces launch interceptor missiles into the sky over Doha to intercept incoming Iranian missiles. Photo: Stringer/dpa

Doha on Wednesday called on Tehran to halt any hostile acts, as it welcomed a deal between the United States and Iran for a two-week truce.

"Qatar expresses its welcoming of the announcement of the ceasefire... considering it an initial step toward de-escalation," the country’s foreign ministry said in a statement.

"The ministry affirms the importance of full adherence to the ceasefire... emphasizing the necessity for the Islamic Republic of Iran to take the initiative to immediately cease all hostile acts and practices that undermine regional stability," it added.


Kuwait Says Has Been Dealing with 'Intense Wave of Iranian Attacks' for Hours

This picture shows a fishing boat sailing in Gulf waters in Kuwait City with the Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad al-Sabah Causeway visible in the background on April 2, 2026. (Photo by YASSER AL-ZAYYAT / AFP) /
This picture shows a fishing boat sailing in Gulf waters in Kuwait City with the Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad al-Sabah Causeway visible in the background on April 2, 2026. (Photo by YASSER AL-ZAYYAT / AFP) /
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Kuwait Says Has Been Dealing with 'Intense Wave of Iranian Attacks' for Hours

This picture shows a fishing boat sailing in Gulf waters in Kuwait City with the Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad al-Sabah Causeway visible in the background on April 2, 2026. (Photo by YASSER AL-ZAYYAT / AFP) /
This picture shows a fishing boat sailing in Gulf waters in Kuwait City with the Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad al-Sabah Causeway visible in the background on April 2, 2026. (Photo by YASSER AL-ZAYYAT / AFP) /

Kuwait on Wednesday reported Iranian attacks that have been ongoing from 8am local time and damaged power and desalination plants as well as oil facilities, hours after an Iran-US truce came into effect.

"Since 8:00 AM (0500 GMT) today, Kuwaiti air defenses have been engaging an intense wave of hostile Iranian attacks, dealing with 28 drones targeting the State of Kuwait," Kuwait's military said in a statement on X.

It said it "intercepted a large number of these hostile drones" but that the attacks caused "significant material damage to oil facilities, power plants and water desalination plants.”


Saudi Arabia Hopes Ceasefire Will Achieve ‘Comprehensive and Sustainable De-Escalation’

A general view of Riyadh city during the early hour of evening at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 28, 2025. (Reuters)
A general view of Riyadh city during the early hour of evening at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 28, 2025. (Reuters)
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Saudi Arabia Hopes Ceasefire Will Achieve ‘Comprehensive and Sustainable De-Escalation’

A general view of Riyadh city during the early hour of evening at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 28, 2025. (Reuters)
A general view of Riyadh city during the early hour of evening at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 28, 2025. (Reuters)

Saudi Arabia on Wednesday threw its support behind the two-week ceasefire reached between the US and Iran, calling for a comprehensive deal to bring stability back to the region.

"The Kingdom hopes that the ceasefire will represent an opportunity to achieve a comprehensive and sustainable de-escalation, enhancing the security of the region, and that any attacks or policies that undermine the sovereignty, security and stability of the countries in the region will cease," the Foreign Ministry said.

The Kingdom commended the efforts made by Pakistan’s Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir in reaching the agreement.

It also stressed the need to keep the Strait of Hormuz open for navigation in line with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea without any restrictions.