Saudi king, crown prince condole with Thai king over quake victims

Rescue personnel work at the site of a building that collapsed, following a strong earthquake, in Bangkok, Thailand, on March 28, 2025. (REUTERS)
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Updated 29 March 2025
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Saudi king, crown prince condole with Thai king over quake victims

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Saturday offered condolences to the king of Thailand over the victims of the earthquake that struck Bangkok a day earlier, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The king and the crown prince also expressed their "deepest condolences and sincere sympathy" to the families of those who lost their lives in the earthquake and extended their wishes for the "safe return of the missing and speedy recovery for the injured."

Thailand and neighboring Myanmar were hit by a 7.7 magnitude quake at midday Friday, killing at least 10 in Bangkok and over 130 in Myanmar.

The full extent of death, injury and destruction was not immediately clear, with officials warning that the toll could go much higher.

In Mandalay, Myanmar's second-largest city which was the epicenter of the quake, there were reports on social media and local news sites that multiple buildings were destroyed, including one of the city’s largest monasteries. 


GCC secretary general receives China’s special envoy to Middle East

Updated 09 March 2026
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GCC secretary general receives China’s special envoy to Middle East

  • Jun praised the GCC states’ prudent domestic, regional, and international policies, which have established the council as a reliable and important partner for China

RIYADH: Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary-General Jasem Al-Budaiwi received China’s special envoy for the Middle East Issue, Zhai Jun, at the General Secretariat headquarters in Riyadh on Sunday.

During the meeting, Al-Budaiwi expressed appreciation for China’s condemnation of Iranian attacks on GCC states and for Beijing’s efforts with all parties to halt the conflict and end the escalation, according to a General Secretariat statement. 

Jun praised the GCC states’ prudent domestic, regional, and international policies, which have established the council as a reliable and important partner for China. He added that the GCC’s commitment to restraint during the crisis reflects these policies.

The meeting also reviewed preparations for the upcoming China-GCC summit later this year and discussed progress in negotiations toward a free trade agreement between the two sides.