Yesterday evening (Tuesday) a joint statement was issued at the conclusion of the visit of the Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to the State of Qatar, and the holding of the seventh meeting of the Saudi-Qatari Coordination Council, the text of which follows:
Based on the established historical ties and fraternal relations that bring together the leaderships of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the State of Qatar and their brotherly peoples, and in strengthening bilateral relations between them, and what was achieved by the mutual fraternal visits of the Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and his brother, the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad. Al Thani, from positive results that contributed to expanding the scope of cooperation between the two countries, and based on the fruitful results of the sixth meeting of the Saudi-Qatari Coordination Council, held in the State of Qatar on 5/5/1443 AH corresponding to 12/9/2021, and in response to a generous invitation from the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim. Bin Hamad Al Thani, Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud made an official visit to the State of Qatar on 5/21/1445 AH, corresponding to 12/5/2023.
In an atmosphere dominated by the spirit of friendship, brotherhood and mutual trust; During the visit, the (seventh) meeting of the Saudi-Qatari Coordination Council was held, co-chaired by the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and his brother, the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and with the participation of Their Highnesses, Excellencies, Council members and heads of subcommittees. And members of the Executive Committee on both sides.
At the beginning of the meeting, the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, welcomed his brother, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and the accompanying delegation, to their second country, the State of Qatar, and expressed in his opening speech the depth of the fraternal and historical relations between the two countries and the two peoples. The two brothers. For his part, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, expressed his happiness at visiting his second country, the sisterly State of Qatar, again, and meeting with his brother, the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. In his speech, the Crown Prince referred to what the bilateral relations are witnessing between… The two countries are witnessing rapid development and cooperation at all levels, and the Crown Prince considered that this council is one of the most important means of communication and coordination between the two countries that embodies those established relations, and that it is necessary to strive with all seriousness to deepen and expand the areas of bilateral cooperation in a way that achieves the two countries and their peoples future renaissance and sustainable growth.
The Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, congratulated the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, on the city of Riyadh’s victory in hosting the 2030 World Expo, and the Kingdom’s candidacy to host the 2034 World Cup. The Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the support and support of the government of the State of Qatar for the city of Riyadh’s candidacy to host the 2030 World Expo, and the Kingdom’s candidacy to host the 2034 World Cup.
The two council presidents expressed: Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and his brother, the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, expressed their satisfaction with the results, positive outcomes and initiatives reached in the subcommittee meetings, and the agreement to sign a number of agreements and memorandums of understanding. Which would enhance cooperation between the two countries in all fields, and they stressed the importance of continuing to support and develop the work of the Council and its subcommittees and permanent coordination between the two sides to contribute to enhancing its effectiveness as an institutional tool regulating work in various fields, and that the implementation of the recommendations and initiatives of the subcommittees be followed up with the support and assistance of both the committee. Executive and General Secretariat of the Council.
Regarding the political issue, the two sides expressed their satisfaction at the advanced level reached by political consultations that express the depth of the fraternal relationship existing between them, and stressed the importance of continuing to consolidate and enhance cooperation and political consultation between the two countries regarding regional and international issues of common interest.
Regarding security and military matters, the two sides noted the importance of strengthening security and military cooperation in a way that contributes to supporting the security and stability of the region, in addition to consolidating cooperation in the fields of military training and scholarships, exchanging experiences and building partnerships in the security and military fields.
Regarding sports, the two sides praised the coordination that took place between them during the State of Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 World Cup, the cooperation that took place between the Saudi Football Association, the Qatar Football Association, and the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy organizing the 2022 World Cup, and the cooperation that took place between the relevant government agencies to facilitate the process. Transporting masses, including coordination at land and air ports.
In the cultural, tourism and entertainment issue, the two sides praised the existing coordination and cooperation between the two countries in the cultural, tourism and entertainment fields, through exchanging experiences and coordinating in preparing joint cultural files and enhancing cooperation between the two countries with regard to registration on the list of tangible heritage of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). ), participating in cultural festivals and events between the two countries, holding joint cultural seminars, and improving the access routes for international tourists to the two countries.
In the economic, trade and investment fields, the two sides stressed the importance of strengthening economic partnerships, developing joint work to diversify and increase the volume of trade exchange between the two countries, facilitating the flow of commercial traffic, overcoming any challenges it may face, and investing in the opportunities available within the framework of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 and the Qatar National Vision 2030. And transforming them into tangible partnerships in all fields for the benefit of the economies of the two countries and their brotherly peoples. They also stressed the importance of raising the pace of investment cooperation and supporting economic integration opportunities in a number of targeted sectors in the two countries.
Regarding investment, energy and infrastructure, the two sides stressed the importance of discussing ways to expand investment partnerships between them, and joint cooperation in promoting and developing investment and enabling entrepreneurship and technology through the relevant authorities in the two countries, and launching the Saudi-Qatari initiative for digital skills between the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology in the State of Qatar. They also expressed their desire to discuss ways to enhance cooperation in the fields of energy, including electricity, energy efficiency, and renewable energy. The future of transportation and its modern technologies, railway connectivity between the two countries, agriculture and food security, for the common benefit of the economies of the two countries.
In the media field, the two sides agreed to establish a strategic partnership between the Ministry of Information in the Kingdom and the Qatar Media Corporation in all media sectors, including raising the reliability of media content, keeping up with media events and events hosted by countries and working to highlight them globally, programmatic exchange and joint production, and media regulation. Visual and audio.
A number of agreements and memorandums of understanding were also signed, including joint cooperation in the field of central bank work in the two countries, and cooperation in the field of youth and sports.
Regarding the regional issue, the two sides discussed developments in the situation in Palestine, and expressed their deep concern about the humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip, and the brutal crimes witnessed in the Strip that claimed the lives of thousands of defenseless civilians, including children, women, and the elderly, and the destruction of vital facilities, places of worship, and infrastructure, as a result of the blatant attacks. to the Israeli occupation authorities, and stressed the need to stop military operations in the Palestinian territories, and protect civilians in accordance with international law and international humanitarian law, and stressed the importance of the role that the international community must play in putting an end to Israeli violations and pressuring Israel to stop its brutal attacks and stop the forced displacement of Palestinians from The Gaza Strip, which is a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and international laws. The two sides stressed the need to enable international humanitarian organizations to play their role in providing humanitarian and relief aid to the Palestinian people, including United Nations organizations, especially the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), and to support their efforts in this regard. The two sides stressed the need to intensify efforts to reach a comprehensive and just settlement of the Palestinian issue in accordance with the principle of the two-state solution, the Arab Peace Initiative, and the relevant international legitimacy resolutions, in a way that guarantees the Palestinian people their right to establish their independent state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
In this regard, the Qatari side appreciated the Kingdom’s hosting of the extraordinary joint Arab-Islamic summit in Riyadh, and the decisions it resulted in that contribute to delivering a unified collective position of the Arab and Islamic countries towards the current events in Palestine, praising the Kingdom’s leadership of the efforts made to implement the summit’s decisions to crystallize international action. To stop the aggression against Gaza. While the Saudi side appreciated the continuous efforts made by the State of Qatar, including the success of the mediation that resulted in reaching the humanitarian truce agreement in Gaza with the aim of delivering humanitarian and relief aid and fuel to meet the humanitarian needs of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and the release of detainees, and its continued endeavor to reach a comprehensive ceasefire. fire, and reaching an agreement on the evacuation of foreign passport holders and some injured civilians from the Gaza Strip.
Regarding the Yemeni issue, the two sides stressed the importance of fully supporting international and regional efforts to reach a comprehensive political solution to the Yemeni crisis. They appreciated the international efforts to strengthen commitment to the truce, and stressed the importance of all concerned parties engaging positively with international and international efforts aimed at ending the Yemeni crisis and dealing seriously with initiatives and efforts. Peace in accordance with the outcomes of the comprehensive National Dialogue Conference and UN Security Council Resolution No. (2216). The Qatari side praised the Kingdom’s efforts and its many initiatives aimed at encouraging dialogue and reconciliation between the Yemeni parties, its role in providing and facilitating the arrival of humanitarian aid to all regions of Yemen, the financial support the Kingdom provides to address the difficult financial conditions facing the Yemeni government, and the development projects provided by the Saudi Program for the Development and Reconstruction of Yemen. .
Regarding developments in the situation in Sudan, the two sides stressed the importance of the commitment of both parties to the conflict in Sudan to a ceasefire, and to build on the Jeddah Declaration (Commitment to Protect Civilians in Sudan) signed on May 11, 2023, and the humanitarian arrangements within the framework of international humanitarian law signed on May 20, 2023, from In order to end the ongoing conflict in Sudan and return to political dialogue between all parties. The two sides welcomed the progress achieved in the second Jeddah talks on November 7, 2023, which contributed to the resumption of dialogue between the two sides of the conflict to reach a commitment to take steps to facilitate an increase in humanitarian aid and implement confidence-building measures, in preparation for reaching a permanent cessation of the conflict and alleviating the suffering of the Sudanese people.
Regarding the Syrian issue, the two sides stressed the importance of finding a just and comprehensive solution to the Syrian crisis that ends all its repercussions, contributes to the safe voluntary return of Syrian refugees to their country, and preserves the unity and territorial integrity of Syria. They expressed their aspiration that the Syrian government will take serious steps to address the roots of this crisis, in a way that supports The stability of the Syrian Arab Republic and the unity and integrity of its territories.
The Qatari side welcomed the agreement of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran to resume diplomatic relations between them, expressing its hope that this step will contribute to enhancing security and stability in the region, in a way that preserves the sovereignty of countries and non-interference in their internal affairs. The two sides also called on the Islamic Republic of Iran to fully cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency regarding the peacefulness of its nuclear program, and the importance of any agreement contributing to the establishment of comprehensive negotiations in which the countries of the region participate in a way that contributes to achieving regional and international security and stability.
Regarding international affairs, the two sides renewed their keenness to continue coordination between them and intensify efforts aimed at maintaining international peace and security. The two sides exchanged views on issues of concern to both countries on the regional and international arenas, and affirmed their determination to enhance cooperation and joint coordination towards them, and to continue their support for everything that would establish peace and stability in the region and the world.
Regarding the Russian-Ukrainian crisis, the two sides stressed the importance of settling differences by peaceful means, and making possible efforts to reduce the escalation in a way that contributes to restoring security and stability, and limits the negative repercussions of this crisis. The Qatari side praised the humanitarian and political efforts undertaken by Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, including the release of a number of prisoners of different nationalities, and the ongoing efforts in this regard. The Saudi side also praised the efforts made by the State of Qatar in mediating between the two sides of the crisis by reuniting a number of children with their families in Ukraine.
At the end of the meeting, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, expressed his thanks and appreciation to his brother, the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, for the good reception and organization of the fruitful Council meeting, and they stressed their keenness to strengthen and deepen the distinguished bilateral relations and transfer them to the future. Broader prospects, and they expressed their sincere wishes for continued security and stability in the two brotherly countries.
They also thanked Their Highnesses, Excellencies, and Excellencies, the heads and members of the Executive Committee, the subcommittees, the General Secretariat of the Council, and the work teams for their efforts to make the work of the seventh meeting of the Council a success.
