Today, the Italian capital, Rome, witnessed intensive Saudi diplomatic activity, as the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Member of the Council of Ministers and Climate Envoy, Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir, held a series of strategic meetings with senior Italian officials and representatives of international organizations, as part of his official visit to the Republic of Italy, which aims to strengthen the bonds of joint cooperation between the two friendly countries.
Strengthening political and defense relations
Al-Jubeir began his meetings with a meeting with Senator Stefania Craxi, Chair of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee of the Italian Senate. The meeting reviewed the historical bilateral relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Italy and discussed ways to develop them in various fields. The two sides also discussed the most prominent developments on the regional and international scenes and exchanged views on issues of common interest, reflecting the depth of political coordination between Riyadh and Rome on regional matters.
These meetings are of particular importance in light of the growing relations between the two countries, as Italy is an important trade and economic partner for the Kingdom in the European continent, and relations are witnessing remarkable development in light of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which opens up broad horizons for international partnerships.
Partnership with the World Food Programme
In the context of humanitarian and international work, Al-Jubeir met with the World Food Programme's Assistant Executive Director for Programme Operations, Matthew Hollingworth. During the meeting, they reviewed the existing and fruitful cooperation between the Kingdom and the Programme, noting that the Kingdom is a leading country in supporting global humanitarian efforts and combating hunger. The two sides discussed ways to enhance this cooperation to ensure aid reaches those in need in conflict and disaster zones, emphasizing the importance of food security as a cornerstone of international stability.
Parliamentary and climate diplomacy
On the parliamentary diplomacy front, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs met with the Chairman of the Italian-Saudi Parliamentary Friendship Committee, Senator Marco Osnato, where they discussed ways to support bilateral relations in a manner that serves the interests of the two friendly peoples, and to activate the role of friendship committees in bringing viewpoints closer and enhancing mutual understanding.
On the issue of climate change, which is of great global concern, Al-Jubeir, in his capacity as the Kingdom's climate envoy, held an important meeting with the Italian government's climate envoy, Francesco Corvaro. Discussions focused on unifying efforts to address the effects of climate change and strengthening bilateral cooperation within the framework of international climate action. This meeting underscores the Kingdom's commitment to its environmental responsibilities through its ambitious green initiatives and its pursuit of coordination with international partners to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
These meetings were attended by the Director General of the Office of the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Khalid bin Musaed Al-Anqari, and the Kingdom’s Permanent Representative to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in Rome, Raed bin Mohammed Al-Thukair.
