RIYADH: Senior Saudi officials have conducted multiple meetings with high-ranking representatives from various countries on the sidelines of the ongoing World Defense Show in Riyadh.
Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman met with his British counterpart Grant Shapps on Feb. 4 during the international forum, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The meeting, during which several agreements were reached, focused on the strategic partnership between Saudi Arabia and the UK. The two officials discussed cooperation in the defense sector and reviewed all the opportunities highlighted at the show.
Prince Khalid and Shapps also reviewed the latest regional and international developments as well as additional issues of mutual interest.
The Saudi defense minister was also present on the same day as the Russian Deputy Prime Minister – and Minister of Industry and Trade – Denis Manturov.
During the meeting, both sides discussed aspects of cooperation in military industries and the most promising opportunities in this field, according to SPA.
The two parties also reviewed the relations between nations in the presence of Saudi Deputy Minister of Defense Prince Abdulrahman bin Mohammed bin Ayyaf, along with Russia’s Ambassador to the Kingdom Sergey Kozlov, and Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Alexey Gruzdev. Several senior officials from the Saudi defense ministry also attended the meeting.
On the same day, Prince Khalid also met with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of Slovakia Robert Kalinak.
During the meeting, the two sides reviewed their fraternal relations and discussed cooperation in the defense fields, as well as a number of regional and international issues.
On Feb. 5, the Saudi defense minister met with his Pakistani counterpart, Anwar Ali Hyder.
The meeting reviewed the historical relations binding the amiable countries. Prospects for cooperation in the military and defense fields were also discussed, in addition to several regional and international issues of mutual concern.
The ministers witnessed the signing ceremony of two agreements between their ministries. Senior officials from both sides attended the signing.
Moreover, Prince Khalid met with the Minister of National Defense of Korea, Shin Won-sik, with the pair discussing strategies to enhance collaboration in the military and defense sectors.
The two witnessed the signing ceremony of a preliminary memorandum of understanding between the Saudi Ministry of Defense and Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration within the defense industries sector.
Meanwhile, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar bin Ibrahim Alkhorayef met on the same day with chiefs of Airbus Helicopters, Boeing, and Global Saudi Boeing, on which the discussions focused on exploring means of enhancing cooperation between Saudi Arabia and both companies in the aviation industry.
The Saudi Ministry of Investment and the General Authority for Military Industries announced on Feb. 5 the signing of 11 new partnerships with the private sector, aiming at enhancing investments, technology transfer, and development in the defense and military industries sector, according to MISA.
The signing ceremony was attended by the Saudi Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih, and the Gov. of GAMI Ahmad Al-Ohali.
Furthermore, the Minister of Interior of Tajikistan, Lt. Gen. Ramazan Rahimzadeh, visited the Saudi Ministry of Interior’s pavilion at the show on Feb. 4.
Rahimzadeh was briefed on the plans for developing the internal security system, exploring the utilization of artificial intelligence technologies, their capabilities in ensuring security, and innovative solutions for creating protected cities, securing borders, and managing crises and disasters, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
Additionally, the visiting minister reviewed the development of fieldwork, environmental preservation, security of vital installations, and its contribution to the localization of military industries.
On Feb. 5, Yemen’s Minister of Interior, Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Haidan paid a get-acquainted cordial visit to the Saudi Ministry of Interior’s pavilion, where the high-profile guest was also briefed on the artificial intelligence applications and digital innovative solutions the Saudi ministry is utilizing in maintaining security, developing safe cities, securing borders, managing crises and disasters.
The Yemeni minister was also given an idea of how the MoI is developing fieldwork, preserving the environment, keeping the security of vital facilities, localizing military industries, and developing plans for the whole internal security system.
On the same day, Tunisian Minister of Interior Kamel Feki, visited the MoI’s pavilion, where he was also given a similar brief.
