RIYADH: Iraq’s deputy prime minister visited the Kingdom on Friday to promote bilateral relations, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Ali Allawi, who is also the country’s finance minister and acting oil minister, carried a message from Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi for King Salman.
Allawi met Energy Minister Prince Abdul Aziz bin Salman, discussing the stability of the oil market and other oil-related matters of common interest.
They expressed relief about the market’s improvement following the OPEC+ deal and agreed on the need to continue working with producers to expedite the restoration of balance, while stressing both countries’ commitment to the deal.
Allawi also met the Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan, who congratulated him on the formation of the Iraqi government.
Prince Faisal said that King Salman, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the Saudi government wished to preserve unity among the Iraqi people and that they were ready to cooperate with the new government to achieve common interests and ensure regional security and stability.
He emphasized the Kingdom’s support for Iraq in tackling terrorism and its full respect for Iraqi sovereignty and territorial unity, free from any foreign interference.
He also highlighted the importance of the Saudi-Iraqi Coordination Council, which was established as a mechanism to develop bilateral relationships and expand cooperation in the fields of politics, the economy, security, trade and investment.
Prince Faisal said that, in the context of promoting bilateral ties, the Saudi leadership had decided to send its ambassador to Iraq to resume his work as soon as possible.
Allawi also met Saudi Arabia’s ministers of commerce and finance. The two sides discussed ways to promote cooperation, investment and commercial exchange between the two countries, as well as other matters related to the council’s activities.
