Saudi and Kuwaiti crown princes hold talks in Riyadh

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman receives his Kuwaiti counterpart Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah in Riyadh. (SPA)

• They reviewed regional and international developments and efforts exerted toward them in a way that enhances security and stability
• Saudi foreign minster says Sheikh Meshaal’s visit would strengthen political relations between the two countries

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held a meeting with his Kuwaiti counterpart Sheikh Meshaal Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh on Tuesday.
Earlier, Prince Mohammed received the Kuwaiti crown prince as he arrived at King Khalid International Airport for an official visit to the Kingdom.
At the beginning of the meeting, the Saudi crown prince received a written message to King Salman from Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
Prince Mohammed welcomed the Kuwaiti crown prince and his accompanying delegation to the Kingdom, while Sheikh Meshaal expressed his happiness to visit Saudi Arabia and meet the crown prince.
During the meeting, they reviewed relations between the two countries, aspects of bilateral cooperation in various fields and opportunities to support their development, SPA said.
They also reviewed regional and international developments and efforts exerted toward them in a way that enhances security and stability.
The meeting was attended by Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman and Foreign Minister Prince Faisal Bin Farhan.
Following the meeting, Prince Faisal said Sheikh Meshaal’s visit to the Kingdom would strengthen political relations between the two countries, through a high level of coordination.
“The most important of which is joint coordination in regional and international forums to support the issues of the Arab and Islamic nations in order to achieve security and stability in the region,” Prince Faisal said.
He said Saudi Arabia and Kuwait would strengthen joint coordination regarding Iranian threats in the region with the new US administration and would continue to impose economic sanctions and an arms embargo.
Prince Faisal said both countries are working together to activate the work of the Saudi-Kuwaiti Coordination Council by holding the first meeting at the earliest opportunity.
The Saudi minister also said that the two countries pledged to increase cooperation to confront the COVID-19 pandemic.
“There has been permanent, direct and continuous coordination between the health ministers of the two countries, and in the Kingdom’s interest to stabilize the Kuwaiti markets, it supported Kuwait by excluding the opening of the Kingdom’s land and sea ports for the flow of goods to Kuwait, and continued exporting Saudi products to the Kuwaiti markets,” he added.
Meanwhile, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Nayef Al-Hajraf welcomed Sheikh Meshaal’s visit to the Kingdom and said it represents the depth of ties and the strong historical relations that unite the two countries.
“The visit of Sheikh Meshaal Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, crown prince of Kuwait, to Riyadh on his first official foreign visit, as a dear guest of Prince Mohammed bin Salman, bears lofty connotations and noble meanings that reflect the Kingdom’s standing with Kuwait, its leadership and people,” Al-Hajraf said in a statement.