Foreign envoys salute Saudi initiative to convene extraordinary summit

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe joins Thursday’s G20 video conference from Tokyo to discuss the coronavirus crisis. (AFP)
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Updated 27 March 2020
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Foreign envoys salute Saudi initiative to convene extraordinary summit

  • Saudi king: ‘Human crisis requires a global response’

RIYADH: King Salman chaired an emergency virtual summit of G20 world leaders on Thursday to discuss the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, which, to date, has no known cure or preventive vaccine.

“This pandemic has taken a great toll on human lives and caused tremendous suffering to many people around the world,” King Salman said in his opening speech.

“The impact of this pandemic has spread to the global economy, financial markets, trade, and global supply chains, hampering growth and development and reversing the gains accomplished in (the recent past).”

King Salman extended his deepest condolences to everyone around the world affected by this pandemic, wishing a speedy recovery to all those who are infected.

The key to surviving the crisis is to work together, the king said.

“This human crisis requires a global response. The world is counting on us to come together and cooperate in order to face this challenge. We have to work to ensure the quantity of medical supplies to face future pandemics.

“It is our responsibility to extend a helping hand to developing countries and the least developed countries to enable them to overcome this crisis and its repercussions,” King Salman continued. 

“The G20 has previously proven its effectiveness in mitigating the severity of the global financial crisis.”

He added: “We value the effective measures adopted by different countries in this regard. We reaffirm our full support for the World Health Organization in coordinating efforts to counter this pandemic.”

To further complement these efforts, he stressed, the G20 must assume responsibility for reinforcing cooperation in financing research and development for medicine and a vaccine for COVID-19 and ensuring the availability of vital medical supplies and equipment.

King Salman also highlighted one positive development from the COVID-19 pandemic — that the world has been brought together as one to fight an invisible enemy.

“Through our cooperation, we are confident that we, together, will overcome this crisis, and move forward towards a future where all people thrive, prosper and are healthy,” he said at the end of his speech.

China’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Chen Weiqing said: “We appreciate the great efforts made by Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, to make this extraordinary summit a success, and reaffirm a strong commitment to protect lives, safeguard people’s jobs and incomes, restore confidence, preserve financial stability, revive growth and recover stronger. To minimize disruptions to trade and global supply chains, provide help to all countries in need of assistance, and to coordinate on public health and financial measures.”

He added: “China has been working with all countries and international organizations to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. In his speech at the summit, Chinese President Xi Jin Ping stressed the importance of a coordinated approach to fight COVID-19 and confirmed that China was ready to join the international community and make its contribution in sharing knowledge, jointly developing medicine and a vaccine, and helping countries with vulnerable public health systems. We support the WHO, G20 and other mechanisms and organizations.

“As the major engine of the world economy, China is committed to enhancing coordination of macro policies, safeguarding the global supply chain, reducing tariffs, removing barriers and promoting trade. Together, we will prevail.”

Japanese Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Uemura Tsukasa told Arab News: “First of all, I would like to express my highest respect to the government of Saudi Arabia, which holds the G20 presidency this year, for hosting the extraordinary virtual G20 summit meeting at this critical moment. We are now facing one of the biggest global crises in history. It is time for the G20 countries to cooperate and take the lead in the global fight against the novel coronavirus.

“As a member country of the G20 Troika (the previous, present, and next countries to hold the presidency of the G20), Japan is keen to cooperate with other countries to tackle this crisis,” the envoy added. 

“Prime Minister Abe is fully committed to handling the situation every day and taking leadership in implementing robust precautious measures to prevent the further spread of the virus. I sincerely hope that the world will overcome this crisis as early as possible.”

Commenting on the first virtual G20 Summit, Marcelo Gilardoni, Argentina’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, told Arab News: “Argentina and Saudi Arabia are working hand-in-hand, together with the rest of the G20, to address the global health challenges that created this unprecedented crisis.

“Argentina sees this virtual summit hosted by King Salman as a great opportunity to discuss coordinated measures in all fields to face this outbreak,” the envoy continued.

EU Ambassador in Riyadh Michele Cervone d’Urso told Arab News: “Today European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen and President of the European Council Charles-Michel joined other G20 leaders for the first Virtual G20 Leaders meeting, chaired by King Salman, to address the global COVID-19 pandemic. For the European Union, it is essential to act jointly on preparing to restart economies, keeping global supply chains open, and delivering vaccines and treatment.”

The EU envoy underlined that the pandemic is a global problem, requiring global solutions and global cooperation with far-fetching consequences in human, economic and geopolitical terms.


Asir launches campaign to promote organic food culture

Updated 57 min 58 sec ago
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Asir launches campaign to promote organic food culture

  • Ahmed Al-Mojathel: Our goal is to highlight the importance of organic products and foods as a safer, healthier dietary system
  • Initiative forms part of a broader strategy to promote organic food consumption throughout Saudi society

ABHA: A public awareness campaign by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture kicked off Organic Food Day 2024 in Saudi Arabia, reported Saudi Press Agency.

Ahmed Al-Mojathel, director of the ministry’s Asir branch, said: “Our goal is to highlight the importance of organic products and foods as a safer, healthier dietary system.

“We are working to enhance consumer awareness about the benefits of organic foods while encouraging innovation and excellence in organic product quality.”

The initiative forms part of a broader strategy to promote organic food consumption throughout Saudi society.

Al-Mojathel said the campaign also aimed to achieve economic and social objectives supporting the development of the organic food sector across the Kingdom.


Officials detained as investigators smash drug-smuggling operation at Al-Jouf Airport

Updated 14 November 2024
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Officials detained as investigators smash drug-smuggling operation at Al-Jouf Airport

  • 9 people arrested, including Ministry of Interior employee, 4 people associated with the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, and a Saudi Electricity Company worker

RIYADH: A drug smuggling operation at Al-Jouf International Airport in Saudi Arabia, in which several government and other public-sector officials allegedly were involved, has been shut down following an extensive investigation.

An official source at the Ministry of Interior said on Thursday that nine people were detained, including a ministry employee, four people associated with the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, and one from the Saudi Electricity Company.

Their alleged roles in the smuggling network included helping to get the drugs into the Kingdom, ensuring shipments bypassed inspections, transporting them, and concealing them in homes and at other locations.

They also engaged in the promotion and distribution of the narcotics in the country, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The amount and type of drugs involved was not immediately apparent.

The Ministry of Interior said it remains committed to confronting all threats to national security and will take stringent action against anyone who jeopardizes the safety and stability of the country.


Saudi Music Commission launches self-learn digital platform for budding musicians

Updated 14 November 2024
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Saudi Music Commission launches self-learn digital platform for budding musicians

  • MusiqAI offers interactive programs to the public and teaches skills for playing Arabic and Western instruments

RIYADH: The Saudi Music Commission has launched an interactive digital platform to teach music to enthusiasts wanting to start playing an instrument or further their musical knowledge.

MusiqAI is the first self-learn digital platform for music in Saudi Arabia and the Arab region. It offers interactive programs to the public and teaches skills for playing Arabic and Western instruments.

The platform name, which includes “AI,” the abbreviation for artificial intelligence, can be translated from Arabic as “My Music.”

The commission said in a statement that MusiqAI offers online courses and trains enthusiasts and professionals on the latest technologies in music production. It also provides accredited certificates, easy access to video streaming courses, and a self-paced learning experience, anytime and from anywhere.

MusiqAI aims to offer a unique way of learning various music genres — in Saudi Arabia and globally — whether by picking an Arabic or Western instrument such as the drums, guitar or oud, and communicating with trainers and experts on the platform.

The commission said nurturing and supporting musical talent are part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals. In March, the commission launched the Saudi Music Memory initiative to highlight the history of Saudi art and offer academically documented research for musicians and researchers.

To register on the MusiqAI platform, visit the commission website: https://music.moc.gov.sa/en 


OIC discusses draft humanitarian funds statute

Updated 14 November 2024
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OIC discusses draft humanitarian funds statute

  • It discussed the draft humanitarian funds statute
  • Taha added that it was important to make every effort to finalize the statute of these funds

JEDDAH: The general secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation held a meeting of the open-ended Group of Governmental Experts in Jeddah on Thursday.
It discussed the draft humanitarian funds statute, in accordance with the Council of Foreign Ministers.
OIC Secretary-General Hussein Ibrahim Taha said that the meeting was held amid difficult and harsh humanitarian circumstances that required concerted efforts and collective action to adopt actions to help contain humanitarian crises and hardships.
In his speech, Taha added that it was important to make every effort to finalize the statute of these funds, undertake the necessary reforms to their working mechanism and support them with the financial resources to enable them to fulfil their role.
The statement delivered by assistant secretary-general for humanitarian, cultural and social affairs, ambassador Tariq Ali Bakhit, on behalf of OIC’s secretary-general, highlighted the significant challenges faced by member states in the humanitarian field.


KSrelief distributes shelter supplies in Afghanistan

Updated 14 November 2024
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KSrelief distributes shelter supplies in Afghanistan

  • KSrelief will distribute 4,882 shelter items, such as tents, blankets, plastic mattresses and other supplies

KABUL: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center has launched a shelter project for people returning from Pakistan to Afghanistan and victims of the 2024 floods.

It will distribute 4,882 shelter items, such as tents, blankets, plastic mattresses and other supplies across the provinces of Kabul, Ghazni, Bamyan, Badakhshan, Kunduz, Baghlan, Parwan, Kapisa, Panjshir, Herat, Nimroz, Nangarhar and Laghman. The project will help 29,292 people.

The scheme is part of the Kingdom’s humanitarian and relief efforts, through its humanitarian arm, KSrelief, to alleviate the suffering of the Afghan people.