RIYADH: Various sectors on Monday said that Saudi Arabia took center stage as Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attended the G20 summit in Hangzhou, China.
Local businessmen were of the opinion that the presence of the Kingdom at the G20 summit showed it has become an important country in the world.
“This is because the Kingdom shared the limelight with the world’s leading countries during the summit,” said Ibrahim Al-Alim, Estefaa Agricultural Group president.
He noted that the deputy crown prince also held wide-ranging talks with various leaders.
He held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, US Secretary of State John Kerry, British Prime Minister Theresa May, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Sunday. On Monday, Prince Mohammed bin Salman held separate talks with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande, South Korean President Park Geun-hye, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, Brazilian President Michel Temer, Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.
He said that while the Kingdom was highly regarded in the G20 summit, Prince Mohammed also sought cooperation from the East and the West in various sectors.
Al-Alim added that the deputy crown prince, who is also the defense minister, got the message across that the Kingdom and the rest of the world needed each other to meet the challenges of contemporary times.
“The attendance of Prince Mohammed at the G20 summit is significant, to say the least, as it opens up various opportunities for the Kingdom,” he added.
He noted that after meeting the world leaders, the deputy crown prince expressed hope that the G20 summit would help chart a course for the world economy and boost global growth.
Abdullah Al-Harbi, Eye of Riyadh chief executive officer, said that Prince Mohammed's attendance at the summit showed the openness of the Kingdom for collaboration in various fields.
“This openness led to meaningful parleys regarding present and future opportunities to expand cooperation between the Kingdom and China, as well as the rest of the world,” he said.
He added that the reality in the local market demanded that Saudi Arabia establish cooperation with various countries on economic, financial, scientific, technological, oil, and water sectors.
“These drive the wheel of the economy, attracting, in the process, investments from other countries, and increase the income of citizens and residents of the Kingdom,” he said.
He added that “we at the Eye of Riyadh are ready to support any agreement with other countries that ramps up economic reforms in the Kingdom and deepens ties with other countries.”
Nasser Abdullah Al-Saeed, managing director of Import House, said that the Kingdom was able to project to the world its Vision 2030 during the summit. “Various countries lauded the plan and expressed support for it. Lesser dependence on oil underlies the plan, and this is good as far as the environment is concerned,” he said.
He added that he “looked forward to the future when the succeeding generations in the Kingdom could enjoy an absolutely pollution-free environment.”
“The future belongs to them and we should secure the environment for them,” he said.
KSA pitches Vision 2030 at summit
KSA pitches Vision 2030 at summit
Jeddah festival celebrates Korean culture
- Event strengthens ties through heritage, fun
JEDDAH: The Korean Culture Festival, which was organized by the Consulate General of South Korea, has been held at the Korean International School in Jeddah.
This year’s theme, “Enjoy Korea,” drew around 500 guests to celebrate Korean heritage, culture, and the growing friendship between Saudi Arabia and Korea.
Held annually, the festival is part of the consulate’s efforts to foster cultural exchange and strengthen ties between the two nations.
The event was inaugurated by Consul General Woo Hong-koo, who spoke of the long-standing relationship between South Korea and Saudi Arabia.
He said: “This event provides a valuable opportunity to deepen residents’ interest in Korea. As the world’s 12th largest economy, Korea’s growth has been significantly supported by its long-standing cooperation with Saudi Arabia.
“Through events like this, we hope to inspire more people to explore Korea, a country that warmly welcomes all with its rich culture, dynamic traditions, and the global phenomenon of K-pop.”
One of the festival’s highlights was a pansori concert — a traditional Korean musical storytelling performance — by Chae Soo-jung, the chairman of the World Pansori Association, who traveled from South Korea to participate.
Guests explored various cultural activities, including a kimbap (Korean sushi) cooking class, traditional Korean calligraphy, and a hanbok experience, at which those attending could try on traditional attire.
A new addition this year was the virtual reality corner, offering immersive simulations of modern South Korea.
Han SangJun, principal of the Korean International School, highlighted the festival’s significance, saying: “Beyond showcasing Korean culture and tradition, this festival plays a vital role in building people-to-people connections and fostering mutual respect between our communities.
“It’s especially meaningful to see so many Saudi families and young people actively engage with Korean students, learn through hands-on activities, and create lasting memories. These interactions lay the groundwork for deeper educational and cultural collaboration in the future.”
A highlight was the involvement of Korean school students, who led an interactive segment on traditional games. These included ddakji (a paper-flipping game), gonggi (played with small stones), jegichagi (a Korean version of hacky sack), and biseokchigi (a stone-striking game). The activities encouraged participation from attendees of all ages.
Yeong Na, a representative of the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council, a government-affiliated organization promoting Korean identity and heritage, attended the festival, and said: “Our goal is to foster a deeper understanding of Korea’s historical journey and national values.
“By participating in events like this we hope to build meaningful cross-cultural dialogue and inspire greater interest in Korea’s past, present, and future.”
Ahmed Fatani, a university student, said: “I have always been a fan of K-pop, but this event showed me a whole new side of Korea. I had seen some of the traditional games but watching them live and trying them myself was amazing.
“The calligraphy and hands-on activities were also really memorable. It made me want to learn more about Korean history and hopefully visit the country one day.”
Crown prince holds phone calls with King of Bahrain, Emir of Kuwait
RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke on the phone with King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa of Bahrain and Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on Saturday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
During the calls, the crown prince reviewed relations between the Kingdom and Bahrain and Kuwait, SPA added.
They also discussed a number of issues of common interest.
Saudi Arabia, Jordan welcome India-Pakistan ceasefire, urge dialogue
- Kingdom commends both parties for prudence, self-restraint amid heightened tensions
RIYADH: The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday welcomed the US-mediated ceasefire agreement between Pakistan and India, expressing hope that the development will pave the way for restoring security and stability in the region.
In an official statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency, the Kingdom commended both parties for their prudence and self-restraint amid heightened tensions, and reiterated its support for resolving disputes through dialogue and peaceful means.
Saudi Arabia emphasized the importance of adhering to the principles of good neighborliness in a manner that promotes peace and prosperity for both countries and their peoples.
The ceasefire announcement came on Saturday after both Islamabad and New Delhi confirmed the agreement following a period of escalated hostilities.
The de-escalation followed US-mediated talks late on Friday night, with President Donald Trump stating that Washington had played a key role in brokering the understanding between the nuclear-armed neighbors.
Jordan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also welcomed the ceasefire agreement, describing it as a key step toward enhancing regional stability, the Jordan News Agency reported.
Ministry spokesperson Sufian Qudah emphasized the importance of resolving crises through diplomatic channels and reiterated Jordan’s support for peaceful efforts based on the principles of good neighborliness.
He praised both sides for promoting dialogue and exercising restraint.
Saudi FM receives his Iranian counterpart in Jeddah
- Araqchi traveled to Jeddah to meet with senior Saudi officials
- The visit comes ahead of possible indirect US-Iran talks in Oman on Sunday
RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan on Saturday met with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi in Jeddah, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Araghchi was in Jeddah to meet with senior Saudi officials and discuss bilateral issues and regional and international developments.
During the reception, the two ministers reviewed Saudi-Iranian relations and ways to support them in various fields. They also discussed the latest regional developments and the efforts made in this regard, SPA added.
Araghchi is expected to later travel to Qatar to participate in the Iran-Arab World Dialogue summit in Doha, an Iranian ministry spokesperson said on Friday.
The visit also comes ahead of scheduled indirect US-Iran talks in Oman on Sunday and an expected trip to the region by US President Donald Trump.
Little Explorer event in Jeddah connects young minds with archeology, heritage
- Initiative offered interactive, engaging educational experience
Jeddah: The Little Explorer event, which was organized by the Heritage Commission in Jeddah and ran from May 6-10, offered an interactive and engaging educational experience for children.
The event aimed to raise awareness about the importance of archeological excavation and strengthen the connection between younger generations and the Kingdom’s cultural heritage, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Blending entertainment with education, the event sought to foster a generation that values antiquities and their role in strengthening national identity.
Held in Bab Jadeed, the event was part of the commission’s efforts to engage young people in heritage preservation through educational and hands-on activities, which introduced archeological principles and promoted the protection of historic sites.
The event featured five main pavilions, each designed as an educational and interactive station, according to the SPA.
The Little Explorer’s Tale took place in an interactive cinema screening an educational animation that simulated an exploratory journey to the Al-Faw archeological site, offering an engaging introduction to cultural heritage.
Children at the Explorer’s Academy viewed authentic artifacts from various civilizations and learned about excavation tools and archeological processes.
The Excavation Simulation offered a hands-on experience, allowing participants to search for artifacts using real tools in a realistic sand-filled setting.
The Archeological Workshop provided a space for creative drawing with children learning about historic monuments with the help of iPads.
The Play and Learn area combined recreational games with archeological themes, making heritage exploration both fun and educational for children.
