Saudi Arabia, Qatar strengthen ties, issue joint statement on regional cooperation
The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamal Al Thani, concluded a series of high-level meetings with the issuance of a joint statement on Tuesday.
This comes in the wake of Prince Mohammed bin Salman's visit to Doha to participate in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) meeting and the seventh session of the Saudi-Qatari Coordination Council.
The joint statement underscores the commitment of both nations to bolstering political cooperation on regional issues, with a focus on enhancing security collaboration for regional stability.
The leaders expressed their dedication to deepening economic partnerships, fostering trade relations, and jointly addressing regional and international challenges.
The Qatari side welcomed the resumption of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran, expressing optimism that this diplomatic process would contribute to regional security and stability while safeguarding national sovereignty.
However, the joint statement includes a call for the Islamic Republic of Iran to fully cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) concerning the peaceful nature of its nuclear program.
Key highlights of the statement encompass the resolution of the Israel-Hamas conflict in the Gaza Strip, advocating for a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue based on the two-state solution.
The leaders also addressed the Arab peace plan, a comprehensive resolution to the Syrian crisis, the voluntary return of refugees, and the preservation of territorial integrity.
The situation in Yemen featured prominently, with a joint call for international and regional support for political solutions to foster development and investment in the country.
Both leaders expressed optimism about the future, predicting a "renaissance and growth" for the people of Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
The Emir of Qatar congratulated the Saudi Crown Prince on Riyadh being selected to host the 2030 World Expo and Saudi Arabia's hosting of the 2034 World Cup.
The discussions also encompassed the expansion of security and military cooperation, military training collaboration, and shared plans for cooperation in sports, culture, tourism, investment, energy efficiency, renewable energy, entrepreneurship, and the future of transportation and rail connections.
Additionally, several memorandums were signed, including those related to banking industry cooperation and sports collaboration.
