Saudi Arabia 'appreciates' BRICS invitation — FM

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan during the BRICS summit in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo courtesy: Reuters)
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Updated 25 August 2023
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Saudi Arabia 'appreciates' BRICS invitation — FM

  • Prince Faisal bin Farhan said Kingdom would take “appropriate decision” on joining group
  • UAE President Mohamed Bin Zayed praises decision to include his country in BRICS

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia appreciates an invitation by BRICS to join the group and would study the details before the proposed Jan. 1 joining date, the Kingdom’s foreign minister said on Thursday.

Speaking to Al-Arabiya, Prince Faisal bin Farhan said the Kingdom would take “the appropriate decision” regarding the matter.

The foreign minister added that BRICS was “a beneficial and important channel” to strengthen economic cooperation.

Earlier on Thursday, Prince Faisal said the Kingdom is looking forward to developing more cooperation with BRICS nations.

“We look forward to developing this cooperation to create new developmental and economic opportunities and elevate our relationship to the aspired level,” Prince Faisal told the BRICS summit in Johannesburg.

Saudi Arabia stresses the importance of activating collective and multilateral action, he said, and his country is keen to exercise its responsibilities to sustain international cooperation within BRICS.

Prince Faisal also said the Kingdom will also continue to be a reliable source of energy and had the tools to maintain stable energy markets.

The BRICS group of nations decided at a summit this week in Johannesburg to invite six countries – Argentina, Egypt, Iran, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates – to become new members of the bloc, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Thursday.

BRICS membership of new countries will take effect on Jan. 1, 2024, said Ramaphosa.

Leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) have agreed to expand their group, which would be the first expansion since 2010.

UAE President Mohamed Bin Zayed praised the decision to include his country in BRICS. 

In a statement, Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi thanked BRICS leaders for inviting his country to join the group, vowing to work with other members for the benefit of developing countries.

“We look forward to coordinate with BRICS to achieve the group’s goals in supporting economic cooperation and raise the voice of countries in the south regarding different challenges that we face,” he said.

Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali hailed his country’s accession to the bloc as a ‘great moment’ for his country.

“Ethiopia stands ready to cooperate with all for an inclusive and prosperous global order,” he said.

A senior adviser to Iran’s president on Thursday hailed the country’s forthcoming admission to the BRICS grouping as a triumph of diplomacy for the Islamic republic.

Thursday’s announcement came amid intensified diplomacy by Iran to reduce its isolation, improve its economy and offset the impact of crippling sanctions reimposed after the 2018 withdrawal of the United States from a landmark nuclear deal.

“Permanent membership in the group of global emerging economies is considered a historic development and a strategic success for the foreign policy of the Islamic republic,” Mohammad Jamshidi wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

A “new scenario” opens for Argentina with the South American country’s invitation to join the BRICS group of developing nations, President Alberto Fernandez said on Thursday.

Fernandez added that joining the bloc would be a “great opportunity” to strengthen the nation, which has been in economic crisis with a weakened currency, dried-up foreign reserves and spiraling inflation.

Argentina wanted to join BRICS because of the bloc's geopolitical and financial importance during a difficult global context, Fernandez said in a speech.

“We open up our possibilities of joining new markets, of consolidating existing markets, of raising investment coming in, of creating jobs and raising imports,” he said.

The expansion could also pave the way for dozens of interested countries seeking admission to BRICS at a time when geopolitical polarization is spurring efforts by Beijing and Moscow to forge it into a viable counterweight to the West.

Brazil’s President Luiz Lula da Silva, who joined the Johannesburg summit, said that Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Ethiopia and the UAE have all shown interest to join BRICS. 

Russia’s Vladimir Putin hailed BRICS membership expansion and said work with new members should start immediately. 

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi meanwhile said the new members to BRICS will further strengthen and give shared efforts a new impetus.

The expansion could also pave the way for dozens of interested countries seeking admission to BRICS at a time when geopolitical polarization is spurring efforts by Beijing and Moscow to forge it into a viable counterweight to the West. Brazil’s President Luiz Lula da Silva, who joined the Johannesburg summit, said that Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Ethiopia and the UAE have all shown interest to join BRICS. Russia’s Vladimir Putin hailed BRICS membership expansion and said work with new members should start immediately. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi meanwhile said the new members to BRICS will further strengthen and give shared efforts a new impetus.

Chinese President Xi Jinping said BRICS are all nations with important influence, shouldering important responsibilities for world peace and development.

The debate over enlargement has topped the agenda at the three-day summit taking place in Johannesburg. And while all BRICS members publicly expressed support for growing the bloc, there were divisions among the leaders over how much and how quickly.

Though home to about 40 percent of the world’s population and a quarter of global gross domestic product, BRICS members’ failure to settle on a coherent vision for the bloc has long left it punching below its weight as a global political and economic player.

More than 40 countries have expressed interest in joining BRICS, say South African officials, and 22 have formally asked to be admitted.

They represent a disparate pool of potential candidates motivated largely by a desire to level a global playing field many consider rigged against them and attracted by BRICS’ promise to rebalance the global order.

– With Agencies


Jordan’s King Abdullah meets with Saudi FM, Arab ministers at Syria meeting

Updated 14 December 2024
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Jordan’s King Abdullah meets with Saudi FM, Arab ministers at Syria meeting

  • The meeting was held on the sidelines of the main Aqaba meetings on Syria

AQABA: Jordan’s King Abdullah II emphasized the strategic importance of Syria’s stability for the Arab world and the broader region during a meeting with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Aqaba on Saturday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The gathering also included members of the Arab Ministerial Contact Committee on Syria, foreign ministers from several countries, and representatives from international organizations.

King Abdullah underlined the critical need for a unified and effective international stance to safeguard Syria’s security, protect its citizens, and uphold its sovereignty.

He highlighted the importance of preserving Syria’s territorial integrity against any external interference or aggression while reinforcing its national institutions.

The meeting was held on the sidelines of the main Aqaba meetings on Syria, which also included top diplomats from the US and Turkiye Antony Blinken and Hakan Fidan.


Riyadh festival celebrates Saudi creativity, theatrical arts

Updated 14 December 2024
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Riyadh festival celebrates Saudi creativity, theatrical arts

  • The Riyadh Theater Festival reflects the commission’s commitment to supporting the performing arts and Saudi talent to achieve a strong presence on the regional and international stage

RIYADH: The Theater and Performing Arts Commission will host the second Riyadh Theater Festival at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University.

The commission’s CEO Sultan Al-Bazie announced details of the event, which runs from Sunday to Dec. 26, to an audience of leading figures from the theater world and the media at the Saudi Music Hub.

The festival, he said, was a cornerstone for enhancing the theatrical movement in the Kingdom and raising public awareness of the performing arts.

HIGHLIGHT

The Riyadh Theater Festival reflects the commission’s commitment to supporting the performing arts and Saudi talent to achieve a strong presence on the regional and international stage.

This year’s event would feature 20 performances, selected by a committee of experts, to reflect the diversity of theatrical arts in the Kingdom, including its intellectual and developmental programs, Al-Bazie said.

The festival will also honor the late Ahmed Al-Sabbagh, who was a notable figure in the field.

The Riyadh Theater Festival reflects the commission’s commitment to supporting the performing arts and Saudi talent to achieve a strong presence on the regional and international stage.

It will conclude with the presentation of awards to the distinguished performers.

 


Saudi minister meets national security official at the Middle East Institute

Updated 14 December 2024
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Saudi minister meets national security official at the Middle East Institute

  • They discussed enhancing the partnership between the Saudi ministry and the institute, as well as other topics of common interest

RIYADH: Saudi Vice Minister of Finance Abdulmuhsen Al-Khalaf met Joseph L. Votel, a distinguished senior fellow on National Security at the Middle East Institute, in Riyadh, the Finance Ministry said on X on Saturday.

During the meeting, they discussed enhancing the partnership between the Saudi ministry and the institute, as well as other topics of common interest.

Meanwhile, Ambassador of the Maldives to the Kingdom Ahmed Sareer recently met Saudi Minister of Commerce Majid Al-Qasabi and discussed areas of mutual cooperation and enhancing trade and investment between the two countries, the embassy of Maldives wrote on X.

 


Saudi adventurer sets out to cross Empty Quarter on foot

Updated 14 December 2024
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Saudi adventurer sets out to cross Empty Quarter on foot

  • Al-Shaibani will walk the full length of the desert with support from a logistics team

JEDDAH: A Saudi adventurer is tracing a historical journey through the Rub Al-Khali, or Empty Quarter, the largest continuous sand desert in the world.

Badr Al-Shaibani will begin the journey on Sunday, crossing the 650,000 square km desert from south to northeast, entirely on foot.

Al-Shaibani will walk 600 kilometers across the desert with support from a logistics team.

He wants his journey to spotlight the ecological significance of the Empty Quarter, while documenting its natural and cultural landmarks.

Beyond the expedition itself, Al-Shaibani hopes to inspire a generation of Saudi youth to take on challenges, and discover their untapped potential by stepping out of their comfort zones and embracing new experiences.

Speaking to Arab News on the eve of his latest adventure, Al-Shaibani said: “It is the beginning of a new chapter of my adventures. I found myself drawn to one of the most beautiful challenges in my beloved country, which is crossing the Empty Quarter.”

Setting off from the Umm Hadid mining site, which is located in the Afif region, Al-Shaibani expects the journey to take around 18 days. He said that he felt confident about taking on the challenge.

“I am very excited about this because I have done so many adventures around the world, but this one is a special one because it is in Saudi Arabia,” he said.

Al-Shaibani’s trek through majestic sand dunes and captivating natural sites will showcase the vast potential of the Kingdom’s deserts as a global tourist attraction.

It also reinforces the role of desert tourism in promoting environmental consciousness, revitalizing the cultural legacy of desert regions, and aligns with Vision 2030’s commitment to sustainable, culturally enriched tourism that draws enthusiasts from around the globe.

Al-Shaibani has previously undertaken adventures that combine physical endurance with nature exploration.

His achievements include an expedition to the South Pole, a documentary journey tracing the Prophet’s migration route, and completion of the Seven Summits challenge.


Saudi Arabia praised by UNESCO for achievements in artificial intelligence

Updated 14 December 2024
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Saudi Arabia praised by UNESCO for achievements in artificial intelligence

  • Report, part of UNESCO’s initiative to measure AI readiness through its Readiness Assessment Methodology, commended the Kingdom’s achievements as “global benchmark”

RIYADH: The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization issued a report on Saturday that highlighted Saudi Arabia’s progress in the field of artificial intelligence, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The report, part of UNESCO’s initiative to measure AI readiness through its Readiness Assessment Methodology, commended the Kingdom’s achievements as “a global benchmark for the ethical and innovative adoption of advanced technologies,” according to the SPA.

The UNESCO report evaluated Saudi Arabia’s AI readiness in six key areas: national governance; legislation and regulations; societal and cultural; research and education; economic impact; and technical infrastructure. It concluded that the Kingdom had the capacity to adopt AI ethically and responsibly while achieving sustainable outcomes.

The report highlighted the establishment of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority in 2019 and the launch of the National Strategy for Data and Artificial Intelligence in 2020 as key steps in Saudi Arabia’s AI journey, and praised the Kingdom’s commitment to fostering a robust regulatory environment, promoting innovation while managing risks, enhancing education and workforce capabilities, and empowering women in AI-related fields, the SPA added.

UNESCO’s assistant director-general for social and human sciences, Gabriela Ramos, acknowledged Saudi Arabia’s efforts to lay strong foundations for AI governance and expressed confidence in the Kingdom’s ability to achieve sustainable, equitable outcomes through the technology.

The Kingdom ranked first globally in the Government Strategy for Artificial Intelligence category of the Global Artificial Intelligence Index 2024, second globally in public awareness of AI per the Artificial Intelligence Index 2023, and first regionally in overall AI performance.

Infrastructure development has been another area of strength. The Kingdom increased the capacity of its data centers to 204 megawatts in 2023, and launched the cutting-edge supercomputer Shaheen 3, and advanced digital communication through platforms including the Saudi Private Integration Network Exchange.

The report also highlighted Saudi Arabia’s strides in innovation and scientific research — noting that AI-related research publications more than doubled from 4,100 to 10,500 between 2019 and 2023 — as well as the establishment of institutions including the SDAIA-KAUST AI Center.