RIYADH: The Saudi Cabinet on Tuesday discussed the outcomes of Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan’s visits to Syria and Lebanon last week.

The prince met newly elected Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in Beirut and the new Syrian ruler, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, in Damascus.

The Cabinet session in Riyadh was chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who briefed members on his telephone conversation with new US President Donald Trump last Wednesday, and his meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Sunday during her visit to AlUla.

After the session, Minister of Media Salman Al-Dossary said Saudi diplomacy supports Syria and Lebanon, and the efforts to restore their rightful positions within the Arab and international communities.

Cabinet members also praised the work of the Kingdom’s delegation at the annual World Economic Forum summit in Davos last week. Several Saudi ministers and business leaders attended the event, at which the Kingdom hosted a Saudi House pavilion to showcase the nation’s transformation and help forge connections with government and business stakeholders.

The Cabinet said that the announcement by Saudi Arabia that it will regularly host WEF meetings in Riyadh beginning in 2026 reaffirms the country’s leadership role as a global center for international dialogue, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

DHAHRAN: Japan’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia attended a cultural event in Dhahran on Monday as the two countries celebrate 70 years of diplomatic relations this year.

Ambassador Morino Yasunari toured various Japan Cultural Days exhibits at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra), where events run until Feb. 8. The envoy even dropped in on a sushi-making workshop where Arab News was in attendance.

Communal tables were set up and a professional sushi chef instructed the 20 participants on how to prepare three kinds of sushi, using select ingredients. The ticketed class allowed sushi-lovers to roll out their own sushi and then eat it.

Those at the table joked that perhaps the ambassador popped in to see their work because he could not resist the delicious aromas coming out of the space.

One of those participants at the class was Danah Al-Harbi. The ambassador happened to visit her session, and she told Arab News that his visit showed his commitment to understanding the similarities between the two countries.

“It was honestly a completely new experience for us in the Eastern Province. It is the first time that Japanese culture is truly immersed at Ithra, and one of the most notable highlights of this event for me was the sushi-making experience.

Saudis that maybe did not go to Japan have a chance to taste the flavor of Japan. I hope to see you next time in Japan but today, you can come to Ithra.

Rieko Ono, Workshop facilitator

“I had to try it and it was truly exceptional. I love eating sushi, but I didn’t know how to make it until today,” Al-Harbi told Arab News. “Now, I can eat it after making it.”

Yasunari also visited the Japanese House experience where visitors took part in a traditional tea ceremony, serving and drinking matcha while making wagashi, the delicate, plant-based traditional Japanese confectionary crafted by hand to complement the unsweetened tea.

“The most interesting part is that I find something similar and also something in common between the two countries, Japan and Saudi, I found that the Arabic coffee and tea culture is something very close to each other, and we use this too for friendship and harmony,” Rieko Ono, who flew over from Tokyo to lead some of the workshops, told Arab News.

“I came to Saudi Arabia a few years ago, that was also fun, so it’s my second time and I love this. I’m very happy that Saudi Arabia is open now and so welcoming — I admire this.

“Saudi people love Japanese culture and anime helped us a lot,” she said. “Saudi people that maybe did not go to Japan have a chance to taste the flavor of Japan. I hope to see you next time in Japan but today, you can come to Ithra.”