RIYADH: Saudi Arabia and Malaysia have signed four major agreements in Kuala Lumpur on Monday that will go a long way in cementing ties between the two countries.
King Salman and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, who held talks on a range of bilateral, regional and international issues, also witnessed the signing of the accords.
“During the summit talks, the two leaders reviewed bilateral relations and ways of enhancing them in various fields to serve the interests of the two countries and their peoples,” said a report published by the state-owned Saudi Press Agency (SPA) here Monday.
King Salman wrote: “I seize the opportunity of my visit to the palace of the prime minister of Malaysia to express my pride in what Malaysia has achieved in terms of progress as well as in terms of the development of relations between our two countries in all areas.
“I am looking forward that my visit to Malaysia results in a quantum leap in the course of relations between the two countries,” said the king.
The Kingdom also announced more scholarships for Malaysian students.
“The Saudi government will increase the number of scholarships for Malaysian students to study in the Kingdom next year,” said Zayed Al-Harithi, head of the cultural section at the Saudi Embassy in Kuala Lumpur. He said there are more than 100 Malaysian students studying in Saudi Arabia.
He said the decision to increase the scholarships was due to 300 applications received last year. “There were only 100 scholarships available for Malaysian students last year to study at Imam Mohammed bin Saud Islamic University in Riyadh,” said Al-Harithi, adding that the Kingdom has many universities in which Malaysian students can attend.
Referring to the four agreements, whose signing was witnessed by King Salman, the SPA report said: “The first memorandum of understanding (MoU) inked Monday is related to cooperation in (the) trade and investment field, which was signed by Minister of State Ibrahim Al-Assaf and Malaysian Minister of Commerce and Industry Mustapa Mohamed.”
The second one includes cooperation in the field of labor and human resources. A joint working committee between Malaysia and Saudi Arabia will be formed to review the skills required by both countries, said Malaysian Human Resources Minister Richard R. Jaem. The third MoU will go a long way in boosting cooperation in scientific and education sectors.
The fourth MoU concerns cooperation between the SPA and the National News Agency of Malaysia. After signing the MoUs, Razak hosted a luncheon banquet in honor of King Salman.
On the sidelines
of the visit, several ministerial meetings took place. Dr. Adel Al-Toraifi met Malaysian Minister of Education Mahdzir Khalid at the ministry’s
headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.
During the meeting, they discussed cultural affairs and Malaysia’s participation as a guest of honor in the Riyadh International Book Fair scheduled for March 7.
Al-Toraifi stressed the importance of cooperation in the field of education and culture. In another ministerial meeting, Al-Toraifi discussed different aspects of cooperation in the media sector with Malaysian Minister of Multimedia and Communications Saleh Keruak.
Saudi Arabia, Malaysia take ‘quantum leap’ with new agreements
Saudi Arabia, Malaysia take ‘quantum leap’ with new agreements
Matcha lovers, anime fans flock to Japan Festival in Riyadh
- Festival celebrates Japanese technology and products
- Major car brands demonstrate new models
RIYADH: Thousands of people flocked to the Japan Festival held recently in Riyadh, which attracted businesspeople, matcha tea lovers, anime fans, and car enthusiasts alike.
Organized jointly by the Embassy of Japan, the Japan External Trade Organization, and the Japanese Society in Riyadh, the festival was held at the Saudi capital’s Cultural Palace and hosted around 8,000 visitors over two days.
A JETRO spokesperson told Arab News that more than a few Japanese have been keeping a close eye on Saudi Arabia’s future potential.
“For Japan, Saudi Arabia has been one of the most important trade partners due to two reasons. One is that Saudi Arabia has been the biggest exporter of crude oil to Japan and the other (is that) Saudi Arabia highly evaluates Japanese technologies, in particular transportation equipment,” the spokesperson said.
On Japan-Saudi exports, the JETRO spokesperson noted that Japanese exports to Saudi Arabia totaled $6.36 billion in 2023, up 25.2 percent from the previous year.
Of that total, transportation equipment accounted for 70.2 percent of total exports. Automobiles grew 31.3 percent to $4.25 billion, with passenger cars and buses/trucks growing 32.8 percent and 24.2 percent respectively.
Imports declined $34.78 billion, down 19.2 percent from the previous year. Crude oil and crude oil imports, which account for 95.7 percent of total imports, declined 17.9 percent to $33.3 billion due to lower crude oil prices and production cuts. In 2023, oil imports from Saudi Arabia accounted for 40.4 percent of Japan’s total.
Major car brands like Mitsubishi and Toyota were on display at the event, as well as several technology, beauty, art and recreational brands.
Trading house Itochu, and Kumon, the children’s educational network, were some of the big name brands participating in the event.
Stage performances showcased a number of Japanese cultural offerings including a drum performance by the students of the Japanese School in Riyadh, a martial arts demonstration, a tea ceremony, umbrella juggling, live painting, and performances of popular traditional and anime songs.
Guests were able to learn about Japanese tourism, play with traditional toys, learn origami, and try on a Japanese kimono or yukata.
Visitors were also educated on Japanese tourism, and enjoyed traditional Japanese toys, calligraphy and craft workshops.
In the booth area, Japanese industrial products with cutting-edge technology and Japanese cars from major brands were displayed.
Camel organization welcomes Saudi HQ approval
RIYADH: The International Camel Organization welcomed the Saudi Cabinet’s decision to approve a headquarters agreement between the Kingdom’s government and the organization.
The decision reflects Saudi Arabia’s ongoing support for the camel sector and its efforts to elevate its role internationally, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Fahd bin Falah bin Hathleen, chairman of the camel organization, expressed his gratitude for the Cabinet’s decision.
He said: “The organization has worked over the years to develop strategies and policies to promote the global camel economy. These efforts aim to advance rural and desert communities, preserve heritage and culture, foster scientific research, and encourage camel-related sports that attract global interest.
“Additionally, we have organized international events, expanded partnerships with global organizations, and prioritized camel welfare, health, and regulations governing their movement.”
Bin Hathleen said that the Saudi Cabinet’s decision underscores the government’s commitment, under King Salman’s leadership, to strengthening the organization’s role and enhancing international cooperation in the camel sector.
He noted that the decision aligns with Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to foster sustainable development, support key sectors, and boost international collaboration to benefit camel breeders and owners locally, regionally, and globally.
This achievement also supports the Year of the Camel and the International Year of the Camelids 2024 initiatives, which are designed to highlight the untapped potential of the animals, SPA reported.
These initiatives advocate for increased investment, further research, capacity-building, and the adoption of innovative practices and technologies in the camel sector.
3rd Global Conference for Giftedness and Creativity underway in Riyadh
- More than 300 talented individuals and local and international speakers from over 50 countries were attending the three-day conference
RIYADH: The third edition of the Global Conference for Giftedness and Creativity opened in Riyadh on Sunday, bringing together a select group of experts and talented individuals in science, technology, and innovation.
More than 300 talented individuals and local and international speakers from over 50 countries were attending the three-day conference, which was inaugurated by Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, governor of Riyadh region, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Organized by the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity, also known as "Mawhiba," the conference is being held at the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC) until Tuesday.
Themed "Beyond Creative Minds," the conference aims to showcase the potential of the gifted, develop a comprehensive care system to support them, bolster integration and strategic partnerships, and enhance opportunities for global exchange and cooperation.
An exhibition and various cultural visits are being held on the conference sidelines, the SPA report said.
According to the Mawhiba site, the conference reflects the success achieved in the two previous editions, and "provides an opportunity for partners to contribute to sponsoring the journey of talented people from different countries of the world."
Saudi-European talks to strengthen cooperation in environmental fields
- Saudi minister, EU security and political officials discuss reinforcing existing work on coping with climate change
RIYADH: Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Al-Jubeir met with European officials on Sunday in Riyadh, Saudi Press Agency reported.
Al-Jubeir, who is also the Saudi climate envoy, held talks with Delphine Pronk, chair of the EU Political and Security Committee, and Luigi Di Maio, EU special representative for the Gulf region.
They discussed issues surrounding climate change and environmental cooperation between Saudi Arabia and the EU, as well as ways in which existing cooperation on tackling climate change could be strengthened. They also talked about the recent development in foreign policy in Europe and the Middle East.
Saudi Arabia maintains a strong dialogue with the EU, with both parties sharing views on several foreign policy issues, including the Saudi-led Arab Peace Initiative for the Middle East.
The EU and Saudi Arabia are also linked through trade relations, with the EU becoming the Kingdom’s second main trading partner after the volume of trade exchange between Riyadh and Brussels peaked at $80 billion in 2023.
Saudi FM arrives in Italy to attend G7 ministerial meeting
RIYADH: Saudi foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan arrived in Italy on Sunday to participate in an expanded ministerial meeting of the Group of Seven (G7) countries in Fiuggi, Saudi Press Agency reported.
The meeting will discuss the current situation in the Middle East, SPA added.
During his stay in Fiuggi, Prince Faisal will hold a number of discussions that will address regional and international issues.
