The event featured artwork and cultural performances by people from different countries, as well as a Unity March across the city’s Roberto Clemente Bridge
Updated 18 August 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: A Saudi woman living in the US is channeling the power of community through Building Bridges Day, an event she recently organized in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The event brought together residents from various backgrounds to build social ties with the aim of enhancing communication and promoting friendship in the community, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.
The event featured artwork and cultural performances by people from different countries, as well as a Unity March across the city’s Roberto Clemente Bridge.
Ebtehal Badawi, the founder of the initiative, explained that she wanted to use art to make a positive impact on the community and promote the idea of human unity among all nationalities.
The debut event last year received broad acclaim, prompting local authorities to adopt it annually.
Speaking to Saudi Press Agency about this year’s festivities, Badawi said: “When we come together, we become stronger, and by continuing to build bridges together, we plant seeds of love and acceptance among people, regardless of their race.”
Badawi hopes that Building Bridges Day can become an international day adopted by the UN to spread a culture of healthy communication among people, regardless of their race or background.
Saudi Arabia, Lithuania sign air transport services agreement
Riyadh, Vilnius to work together to develop regulatory frameworks
Updated 5 min 14 sec ago
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia and Lithuania signed an agreement on Monday to cooperate in civil aviation and air transport services.
Abdulaziz Al-Duailej, the president of the General Authority for Civil Aviation, and Ramunas Davidonis, the Lithuanian ambassador to Saudi Arabia, signed the agreement in Riyadh.
The two countries will work to develop regulatory frameworks for air transport traffic and expand the operational network of their national air carriers.
The cooperation will further enhance Saudi Arabia’s position as a global logistics center for civil aviation and air transport services, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The Kingdom’s Vision 2030 aims to position the country as a hub for aviation connectivity to 250 international destinations, serving an expected 330 million passengers annually by 2030.
French President Macron arrives in Riyadh for official visit
Updated 21 min 11 sec ago
Arab News
RIYADH: French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Riyadh on Monday evening for an official visit to Saudi Arabia, Saudi Press Agency reported.
Upon arrival at King Khalid International Airport, Macron was received by Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, Deputy Governor of Riyadh Region, along with the Minister of Commerce Majid Al-Qasabi and Prince Faisal bin Abdulaziz bin Ayyaf, Mayor of Riyadh.
Also in attendance were Fahd bin Mayouf Al-Ruwaili, Saudi ambassador to France, and Patrick Maisonnave, French ambassador to the Kingdom.
The visit underscores the strengthening ties between Saudi Arabia and France, with discussions expected to focus on water resource sustainability and other key areas of cooperation, SPA added.
What to expect from French President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to Saudi Arabia
From cultural cooperation to resolving conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, Macron has much to discuss on state visit
The Elysee Palace has dubbed the visit “exceptional,” signaling the strategic importance of Franco-Saudi ties
Updated 18 sec ago
Arlette Khouri
PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron has begun a landmark three-day state visit to Saudi Arabia, where a one-on-one meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman anchors an intensive diplomatic schedule.
Arriving in Riyadh on Monday evening, Macron was welcomed with an official ceremony. The Elysee Palace has dubbed the Dec. 2-4 visit “exceptional,” signaling the strategic importance the French government ascribes to Franco-Saudi relations.
It is the latest of several high-profile exchanges between the two nations, building upon the crown prince’s visit to France in April 2018, which laid the foundation for a new era in bilateral relations, Macron’s Gulf tour in December 2021, which concluded in Jeddah, and the crown prince’s return to Paris in June 2023.
According to the Elysee, Macron will first participate in expanded bilateral talks aimed at implementing a new strategic partnership framework. These discussions will establish joint sectoral committees between the two governments.
Macron was welcomed with an official ceremony on Monday. (AFP)
He will then hold private talks with the crown prince, followed by a working dinner bringing together both leaders and associated government officials from both countries. The two leaders are expected to focus on forging joint diplomatic initiatives to address mounting regional tensions.
Lebanon will take center stage in the talks, reflecting both nations’ longstanding influence in the country’s affairs. “Both France and Saudi Arabia have historically played crucial roles in supporting Lebanon,” a diplomatic source noted.
According to the Elysee, the leaders will explore joint initiatives to bolster the ceasefire agreed last week between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia and to address Lebanon’s long-running political deadlock.
“We aim to chart a path forward together — not only to secure a presidential election but also to establish a framework for implementing essential reforms demanded by both the Lebanese people and the international community,” the source added.
Lebanon will take center stage in the talks, reflecting both nations’ longstanding influence in the country’s affairs. (AFP)
Building on commitments made during Macron’s December 2021 visit to Riyadh, the two governments have established a joint humanitarian fund targeting Lebanon’s pressing needs, so as to help the Lebanese population navigate through multiple, overlapping crises.
The Gaza conflict will be another critical focus of discussions. Since the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, the Palestinian territory has come under intense Israeli bombardment, leading to one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
French officials have noted Riyadh’s prominent role in diplomatic efforts to end the conflict between Israel and Hamas, participating in talks with French counterparts and leading a contact group through the Arab League and Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
“Both nations share common ground on Gaza,” an Elysee spokesperson said. “We are aligned in our urgent call for an immediate ceasefire in the region.”
The talks will also encompass broader regional security concerns, according to French officials.
Macron will tour Riyadh’s newly inaugurated elevated metro system. (AFP)
“Syrian developments must be addressed given their impact on regional stability,” the Elysee said, highlighting that discussions will also focus on monitoring Iranian arms shipments to Hezbollah via Syrian regime-controlled territory.
Beyond foreign policy matters, Tuesday’s agenda will focus on economic and environmental initiatives. Macron will tour Riyadh’s newly inaugurated elevated metro system, which features significant French technical involvement.
Saudi-French cooperation is already expanding into previously unexplored or underdeveloped sectors, spanning tourism, fintech, cybersecurity, renewable energy, telecommunications, space technology and artificial intelligence.
Macron will join world leaders at the One Planet Summit’s plenary session, where sovereign wealth funds will convene to discuss climate initiatives. He will co-chair talks with Yasir Al-Rumayyan, governor of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.
Afterward, Macron will visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of At-Turaif in Diriyah on the outskirts of Riyadh, where he will share a lunch with Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, in the presence of his counterpart Rachida Dati and various French and Saudi cultural sector representatives.
The day will continue with Macron attending the Saudi-French Economic Forum, where he will review key outcomes before joining the One Water Summit. The summit, co-chaired by the Saudi crown prince and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, will bring together world leaders to tackle pressing water challenges.
“Both nations share common ground on Gaza,” an Elysee spokesperson said. (AFP)
During the summit, leaders will participate in a series of roundtable discussions exploring water security, resource management, and their broader implications for global politics and economics.
Macron’s visit also coincides with Saudi Arabia hosting COP16, a global platform addressing desertification under the theme “Our Land. Our Future.”
Cultural ties will take center stage on Wednesday at the historic AlUla archaeological site in northwestern Saudi Arabia, where Macron will travel with a delegation of cultural officials.
He will tour the site before meeting with French-Saudi cultural cooperation stakeholders in the presence of Jean-Yves Le Drian, president of the French Agency for AlUla Development, and his counterpart Abir Al-Akel, who chairs the Royal Commission for AlUla.
AlUla stands as an example of Saudi-French partnership, showcasing collaborative expertise in culture, archaeology, construction, tourism and hospitality.
Cultural ties will take center stage on Wednesday at the historic AlUla archaeological site in northwestern Saudi Arabia. (Royal Commission for AlUla)
The state visit will conclude with Macron presiding over the groundbreaking of Villa Hegra, a new cultural hub designed to foster artistic collaboration between France and Saudi Arabia.
This symbolic project, establishing a dedicated artists’ residence, will mark a poignant final event of Macron’s three-day diplomatic mission.
Saudi FM participates in Cairo conference to support humanitarian work in Gaza
Prince Faisal says crisis has ‘reached an unbearable limit’
Kingdom has provided more than 6,600 tonnes of food, shelter, medical supplies, to Palestinians in Gaza since October 2023
Updated 02 December 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: The Kingdom’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan chaired Saudi Arabia’s delegation at Monday’s Cairo Ministerial Conference to Enhance the Humanitarian Response in Gaza.
Prince Faisal said during his speech that the humanitarian crisis in Palestine had “reached an unbearable limit, and in no way can the deterioration of the situation in the region be allowed any more.”
At least 44,000 Palestinians have lost their lives during Israel’s military campaign in the Gaza Strip since October 2023, and more than 100,000 have been injured.
Prince Faisal said that Israeli actions against children, women and the elderly; the destruction of infrastructure in the Gaza Strip; the forced displacement of 2 million Palestinians and the confiscation of their lands would “perpetuate suffering, fuel extremism in the region … and undermine the chances of coexistence and sustainable peace.”
He said that Israel’s illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank and government policies to affect the legal and historic status of Jerusalem “represent direct attacks on international law and threaten the two-state solution.”
Prince Faisal stressed the importance of an immediate and permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
He also warned that the Israeli-approved law to prohibit the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees from working inside Israel “would have catastrophic consequences for the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.”
Saudi Arabia has provided more than 6,600 tonnes of food, shelter equipment and medical supplies, including ambulances, to Palestinians in Gaza since October 2023.
Prince Faisal said that the “brutal genocide in Gaza is the biggest test of the international order,” and called for the recognition of the Palestinian state and the respect of all UN resolutions.
Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, supervisor general of the Saudi aid agency KSrelief, also attended the conference.
Riyadh forum to address inclusivity in social protection
Focus on sustainable insurance systems and strengthening regional cooperation
Initiatives proposed at the forum could reshape the future of social security in the region
Updated 02 December 2024
Hebshi Alshammari
RIYADH: The Regional Social Security Forum for Asia and the Pacific will be held in Riyadh from Dec. 3 to 5, under the patronage of Saudi Finance Minister and Chairman of the General Organization for Social Insurance Mohammed Al-Jadaan.
Organized by the International Social Security Association every three years, the forum is a key regional gathering on social security and insurance protection.
Saudi Arabia’s hosting reflects its commitment to addressing future challenges and opportunities in social security, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
It also emphasizes the Kingdom’s role as a center for regional and international cooperation, strengthening its leadership in fostering strategic partnerships and knowledge exchange.
The forum will discuss evolving social protection needs, the leadership of social security institutions in developing protection systems, and the impact of economic and demographic changes. It will also discuss the transformation of service management and delivery, and how social security enhances resilience and sustainability.
Representatives from about 30 Asia-Pacific countries, members of the International Social Security Association, will attend. More than 400 participants, including institutional leaders, social protection experts, decision-makers, and representatives from 58 international organizations, will meet to discuss and improve social protection systems.
Marwan Al-Ghamdi, assistant governor for strategy and transformation at the General Organization for Social Insurance, told Arab News that the Kingdom’s hosting of the forum reflects its commitment to strengthening international cooperation to address social insurance challenges and develop innovative policies for inclusivity and sustainability.
“The organization’s mission, focused on achieving social protection for individuals and communities, depends on enhancing sustainable insurance systems, in addition to empowering future generations to build a prosperous future for all,” Al-Ghamdi said.
He added that the Kingdom’s experience in developing social protection systems is as an inspiring model for international institutions and the social insurance sector globally. This experience enriches forum discussions by showing programs that strengthen social protection as part of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Hosting the forum offers an opportunity to reinforce regional cooperation and exchange best practices, strengthening social insurance systems in Asia-Pacific countries, Al-Ghamdi said.
Discussions may lead to innovative services and products that address challenges such as bridging gaps in cover and protecting workers. Successful experiences also raise awareness of the importance of comprehensive social protection and achieving the SDGs, he added.
Al-Ghamdi said that the forum facilitates the exchange of experiences and the formulation of shared policies to address challenges. Participants can launch innovative initiatives to enhance sustainable, high-quality social protection systems in the region.
The initiatives proposed at the forum could reshape the future of social security in the region, as partnerships help develop effective insurance strategies that meet community needs and strengthen the social insurance sector, he added.
