Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman held wide-ranging talks here Wednesday with King Abdallah of Jordan on a range of key regional issues with special reference to the ways and means to boost bilateral links further.
King Salman expressed hope that the visit of the Jordanian king would further enhance bilateral cooperation in different areas, including security and counterterrorism.
During the talks, the two leaders underlined the need to formulate common policies on challenges facing the Middle East region. “They exchanged cordial talks and discussed issues of common interest between the Kingdom and Jordan,” said the SPA.
Arab News could not reach Jordanian Ambassador Jamal Shamayleh for more information. But, a diplomatic source, preferring anonymity, said “the talks covered a number of regional issues, including the campaign against the Islamic State.”
“Jordan, a country invited by the GCC to join the bloc, has been a close regional ally of the Kingdom,” he added.
King Salman hosted a lunch banquet in honor of the Jordanian king and his accompanying delegation.
The talks and the luncheon banquet were attended by top Saudi officials and several members of the royal family, including Crown Prince Muqrin; Riyadh Gov. Prince Faisal bin Bandar, National Guard Minister Prince Miteb bin Abdullah, Deputy Foreign Minister Prince Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah and Finance Minister Ibrahim Al-Assaf.
From the Jordanian side, Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh; Fayez Al-Tarawneh, chief of the Hashemite Royal Court; Gen. Mashal Al-Zaben, chairman of the Joint Chiefs-of-Staff; and Gen. Faisal Al-Shoubaki, director of the General Intelligence Department, were present.
Later on Wednesday, King Abdallah left for Jordan and was seen off by Crown Prince Muqrin at the airport.
Kingdom, Jordan review strategy to end IS menace
Kingdom, Jordan review strategy to end IS menace
Saudi FM arrives in Thailand on official visit
RIYADH: Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan arrived in Bangkok for an official visit to Thailand on Wednesday.
The prince is set to discuss the relationship between Thailand and Saudi Arabia, leading the Kingdom’s delegation at the inaugural meeting of the Saudi-Thai Coordination Council.
Saudi commission registers 3,202 new heritage sites
- Newly registered sites include 16 in Riyadh, eight in Makkah, one in Qassim, two in the Eastern Province, 3,170 in Asir, two in Hail, one in Najran, and two in Baha
- Commission encouraged citizens and residents to report unregistered heritage sites via the Balagh platform, official social media accounts, or local branches
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Heritage Commission has registered 3,202 new sites in the National Urban Heritage Register, bringing the total to 28,202.
This reflects the richness of Saudi Arabia’s heritage and efforts to document and protect it, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
The newly registered sites include 16 in Riyadh, eight in Makkah, one in Qassim, two in the Eastern Province, 3,170 in Asir, two in Hail, one in Najran, and two in Baha.
This registration follows the promulgation of the Antiquities, Museums and Urban Heritage Law; and a decision by the commission’s board of directors authorizing its CEO to register and protect heritage and archaeological sites.
The commission encouraged citizens and residents to report unregistered heritage sites via the Balagh platform, official social media accounts, or local branches.
Saudi FM discusses regional developments with Russian counterpart
RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan discussed regional developments and bilateral relations during a phone call with Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday.
The ministers discussed bilateral ties and regional developments, a statement on the Saudi foreign ministry account on platform “X”.
Japan ambassador attends manga exhibition in Riyadh
- ‘Manga Hokusai Manga’ exhibition held to mark 70 years of diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Japan
RIYADH: Japan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Yasunari Morino attended the opening ceremony of the “Manga Hokusai Manga” exhibition here on Tuesday.
Held at the Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art, the show is one of many upcoming events celebrating the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations.
The exhibition celebrates the work of renowned Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai.
In his speech, Morino said it was a “delight to see more and more Saudi people enjoying the Japanese culture from (the) traditional to contemporary.”
He added that he was happy to see “Saudi artists being inspired by the Japanese manga to create their artworks.”
“I sincerely hope this exhibition will make another footprint of the Japanese culture in KSA and give a great impact in the Saudi art scene,” he said.
The exhibition has been organized in cooperation with the Saudi Museums Commission and the Japan Foundation and is open to the public until Feb. 8.
A version of this article appeared on Arab News Japan.
Saudi aid agency KSrelief distributes over 2,000 food parcels in Pakistan
RIYADH: The Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief has distributed 2,028 food parcels in Pakistan’s flood-affected Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa regions, benefiting 13,159 people, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.
Sunday’s initiative forms part of this year’s Food Security Support Project in Pakistan.
The aid reflects the Kingdom’s ongoing humanitarian efforts through KSrelief to assist needy individuals in Pakistan.
