SEOUL: To mark the country’s 88th National Day the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Seoul held a reception in the Shilla Hotel, in Seoul.
Riyad Almubaraky, the Saudi ambassador, said that ties with South Korea represented one of the most successful models of Saudi Arabia’s bilateral relations with nations around the globe.
“Since the inception of bilateral relations in 1962, the two countries have witnessed a qualitative leap and great development in many fields, including politics, economy, education, culture, and health and many other fields,” he said.
About 400 guests, including envoys in Seoul, politicians and businessmen, attended the ceremony. Among the high-profile South Korean guests were Minister Park Neung-hoo of the Health and Welfare Ministry; Sohn Hak-kyu, leader of the minority opposition Bareunmirae Party; and Rep. Sul Hoon, a lawmaker of the ruling Democratic Party.
Park stressed the progress of mutual cooperation in health care.
“Korea offers residency programs for Saudi physicians and dentists. Currently, a total of 73 Saudi physicians and dentists have been enrolled in these training programs,” he said.
In addition, Riyadh and Seoul are working closely on nuclear safety and security, as the Kingdom has sent 41 nuclear experts to South Korea for training in the development nuclear plants based on System-integrated Modular Advanced Reactor (SMART) technology.
The SMART project is aimed at the design and development of compact nuclear reactors so that the Kingdom can diversify energy sources in line with Vision 2030. South Korea is bidding to build two nuclear reactors in Saudi Arabia.
The Korea-Arab Friendship Caravan will be held in the Saudi capital on Oct. 14. More than 20 Korean artists will perform at the cultural event in the Riyadh-based King Fahd Cultural Center.
South Korea plans to hold the first Korean history and culture exhibition in Riyadh later this year.
Saudi Arabia-South Korea ties witness progress
Saudi Arabia-South Korea ties witness progress
- About 400 guests, including envoys in Seoul, politicians and businessmen, attended the ceremony.
- Among the high-profile South Korean guests were Minister Park Neung-hoo of the Health and Welfare Ministry; Sohn Hak-kyu, leader of the minority opposition Bareunmirae Party; and Rep. Sul Hoon, a lawmaker of the ruling Democratic Party.
Saudi, Ireland foreign ministers discuss Gaza developments in Brussels
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan on Monday met his Irish counterpart Micheal Martin in the Belgian capital, Brussels, to discuss developments in the situation in the Gaza Strip and the efforts made to solve the conflict.
During the meeting, they also discussed bilateral relations between their two countries and ways to strengthen and develop them in various fields, the Kingdom’s foreign ministry said.
The meeting was held on the sidelines of a meeting of the ministerial committee, headed by Prince Faisal, which was assigned by the Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit with the EU’s Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels.
It also comes a day before Ireland, along with Spain and Norway, plan to make official their recognition of a Palestinian state.
Saudi industry minister begins official trip to Netherlands
- Bandar bin Ibrahim Alkhorayef’s visit seeks to strengthen ties in industrial, mining sectors
RIYADH: Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar bin Ibrahim Alkhorayef traveled to the Netherlands on Monday for an official visit with the objective of strengthening cooperation in the industrial and mining sectors, Saudi Press Agency reported.
The visit aims to explore and expand joint investment opportunities between the two countries.
Alkhorayef is scheduled to meet with several Dutch ministers and senior government officials, along with key leaders from the private sector, to discuss collaboration in the industrial and mining sectors.
The minister’s itinerary will also include several visits to Dutch factories and companies operating within these sectors with the hopes of fostering collaborative ventures between private sector entities in both countries.
The visit underscores Saudi Arabia’s commitment to diversifying its economy and strengthening international ties, SPA added.
In 2023, the Kingdom’s non-oil exports to the Netherlands were valued at about SR2.6 billion ($706 million), while its non-oil imports from the Netherlands amounted to almost SR8.5 billion.
Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union praises Saudi Arabia’s ‘tremendous effort’ to support Palestinian cause
RIYADH: The Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union has praised the “tremendous efforts of Saudi Arabia, led by King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in supporting the Palestinian cause,” the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The AIPU released a final statement following the 36th Arab Parliamentary Union Conference, which ended on Monday in Algiers.
A Saudi delegation, headed by the chairman of the Shoura Council, Sheikh Abdullah Al Al-Sheikh, took part in the conference alongside heads of parliaments and councils, and several regional and international organizations and institutions.
During its sessions, the conference discussed developments in the Palestinian issue and the current situation in the Arab region.
The statement also praised the Kingdom’s hosting of a number of Arab, Islamic and African summits to support the Palestinian cause and put an end to the aggression against the Palestinian people.
On Yemen, the statement stressed the importance of the initiatives undertaken by the Kingdom, which call for constructive dialogue to achieve sustainable peace and a comprehensive political solution.
The conference endorsed the recommendations of the political committee, “which highly praised the pivotal and leading role played by Saudi Arabia, which has never hesitated in its significant achievements, contributions, initiatives, and authentic Arab stances aimed at unifying Arab ranks and elevating the status of the Arab and Islamic nations in all international forums,” SPA said.
The conference also praised the Kingdom’s hosting of Sudanese talks in Jeddah between the two conflicting parties to consolidate a truce and reach a final ceasefire agreement to end the crisis in a way that preserves Sudan’s sovereignty and unity and enables it to restore its security and stability.
Saudi economy minister holds talks with UN, OPEC officials in Austria
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Al-Ibrahim on Monday met Executive Director of the UN Office in Vienna Ghada Waly in the Austrian capital, Vienna.
During the meeting, the two discussed “collaboration between the Kingdom and the UN on the Sustainable Development Goals and other topics of common interest,” the ministry said in a statement.
The meeting was held on the sidelines of the minister’s visit to Austria to participate in the ninth session of the Saudi-Austrian Joint Committee.
Al-Ibrahim also met Abdulhamid Alkhalifa, president of the OPEC Fund for International Development, to explore the fund’s upcoming initiatives.
He also held talks with Austrian Minister of Labor and Economy Martin Kocher on strengthening trade and economic cooperation between the two countries, and the latest developments of joint interest.
The meetings were attended by the Kingdom’s Ambassador to Austria Abdullah Tawlah.
Kuwait emir receives Saudi minister of state
Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received Saudi Minister of State Prince Turki bin Mohammed bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz and his accompanying delegation on Monday at Bayan Palace in Kuwait.
Prince Turki conveyed the greetings of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
They reviewed the strong fraternal relations between their countries and ways to strengthen them across various fields.
The meeting was also attended by Saudi Ambassador to Kuwait Prince Sultan bin Saad bin Khalid and dignitaries from both sides.
