Saudi Arabia, South Africa Stress Joint Action, Cooperation
Gulf
Jeddah - Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Arabia and South Africa issued a statement after President Cyril Ramaphosa visited Riyadh, confirming the strength of bilateral relations and the importance of boosting joint action. Ramaphosa began Friday a visit to the Kingdom at the invitation of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz. The statement addressed the official talks between Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and the visiting president. The two sides discussed economic and commercial cooperation, emphasizing the need to boost their economic partnership, taking it to higher levels. The two sides praised the efforts of the joint Saudi-South African Committee and the executive authorities' efforts to strengthen cooperation between their countries in many economic fields. They welcomed the signing of several agreements and memoranda of understanding with an estimated value of more than $15 billion, urging the concerned authorities to activate them and seize the opportunities with common goals. In energy, the two countries agreed to explore cooperation in several energy fields, including petroleum and petrochemicals, energy efficiency, and renewable energy, such as solar, wind, and atomic energy. On climate change, they stressed the importance of committing to the principles of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the affiliated Paris Convention, prioritizing all core issues under the conventions, including adaptation, mitigation, and means of implementation. The South Africa welcomed Saudi Arabia's Green Initiative and the Middle East Green Initiative. On the educational side, they welcomed increased scientific and educational cooperation between the two countries. Concerning health issues, they announced their willingness to strengthen cooperation by expediting the signing of a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the health field. In agriculture and environment, the statement welcomed the private sector's endeavors to engage in investment partnerships in various areas, including agriculture and food industries. They also praised the continued environmental, agriculture, and food security cooperation. The South Africa commended the two initiatives launched during Saudi Arabia's presidency of the G20 of the Global Initiative to Reduce Land Degradation and Promote Conservation of Terrestrial Habitats and the Global Coral Reef Research and Development Acceleration Platform. Moreover, the two sides stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation in maritime and air transport that serves the mutual interests of both nations. They agreed on the importance of improving cooperation in the cultural fields. The two sides stressed the importance of boosting tourism cooperation and developing the tourism movement between the two friendly countries. In defense, they underscored military cooperation in various fields, including military industries. On security, the joint statement reiterated their desire to increase cooperation and coordination on issues of mutual interest, including combating crimes in all forms, exchanging experiences and training, and seeking to enhance efforts to achieve security and stability. The two sides expressed their satisfaction with the efforts exerted in combating and financing terrorism and their joint efforts within the framework of the International Center for Targeting the Financing of Terrorism. The South African delegation praised the Saudi contributions in this regard through its support for the military and security capabilities of the Sahel States (G5) and coordination against terrorism in Mozambique. Politically, the two sides stressed their determination to boost cooperation on all political issues and seek to formulate common positions that preserve their security and stability. They underlined the importance of ongoing coordination and consultation regarding developments in all bilateral and multilateral forums, which helps in achieving security, stability, and prosperity in both countries and the region. They stressed the importance of dealing seriously and effectively with regional threats in a way that helps in achieving regional and international security and stability, emphasizing the principles of good neighborliness, respecting the UN resolutions and international legitimacy, and sparing the region from all destabilizing activities. The South Africa expressed its full solidarity with Saudi Arabia in all the measures it takes to protect its national security, stressing its rejection of any attacks on the Kingdom. The two sides reviewed regional and international issues of common interest, including those related to Yemen, stressing the importance of full support for global and regional efforts to reach a comprehensive political solution based on the Gulf initiative and its executive mechanisms, the outcomes of the Yemeni national dialogue, and Security Council resolution 2216. The South African officials praised Saudi Arabia's efforts and initiatives to encourage dialogue between Yemeni parties and end the war in Yemen and Riyadh's role in providing humanitarian aid and facilitating its access to all regions of Yemen. On the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the two sides stressed their continued support for achieving peace in the Middle East. They stressed the importance of reaching a comprehensive settlement of the conflict under the two-state solution, ensuring the right of Palestinians to establish their independent state on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. On the Russian-Ukrainian crisis, the two sides expressed their hope that the two parties to the conflict would reach a peaceful solution that would alleviate tensions and initiate truce measures to ensure the return of security and stability. The South Africa commended the efforts of Crown Prince Mohammed in adopting humanitarian initiatives towards the crisis, providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine, and releasing many prisoners of war of different nationalities. Saudi Arabia, for its part, emphasized the critical role played by South Africa in supporting security, stability, and economic development in Africa.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/3937441/saudi-arabia-south-africa-stress-joint-action-cooperation
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