His Excellency the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Engineer Waleed bin Abdulkarim Al-Khuraiji, met today with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey, Ambassador Zeki Levent Gumrukcu, on the sidelines of the eleventh session of the Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, which is being hosted by the Saudi capital, Riyadh.
During the meeting, the distinguished bilateral relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Turkey were reviewed, and ways to strengthen and develop them in various fields to serve the interests of both countries and their brotherly peoples were discussed. The two sides also exchanged views on a number of regional and international issues of common interest, emphasizing the importance of continued diplomatic coordination and consultation.
The importance of the timing of the meeting and the significance of the location
This meeting comes at a time when Saudi-Turkish relations are witnessing remarkable development and rapid growth across all levels, driven by the strong political will of both countries' leaderships to deepen strategic cooperation. The fact that this meeting is being held on the sidelines of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations Forum in Riyadh carries significant implications, as it highlights the Kingdom's position as an international powerhouse and a global platform for dialogue and peace, thus providing broader opportunities for Saudi diplomacy to forge effective partnerships with regionally influential countries like Turkey.
The course of Saudi-Turkish relations
The past few years have witnessed a qualitative leap in relations between Riyadh and Ankara, culminating in high-level reciprocal visits between the two countries' leaders and the signing of numerous agreements and memoranda of understanding covering vital sectors such as defense, energy, investment, and tourism. The two countries are working within institutional frameworks to increase trade volume and remove obstacles for investors, in line with the objectives of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 and Turkey's development plans.
Regional and international coordination
Saudi-Turkish coordination is of paramount importance given the geopolitical challenges facing the Middle East. Both countries play a pivotal role in efforts to bolster regional stability, sharing common visions on numerous issues, particularly regarding support for Islamic causes, combating terrorism, and striving for peaceful solutions to regional crises. This meeting between the two deputy foreign ministers is part of an ongoing series of consultations aimed at ensuring unified positions in international forums.
At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides reaffirmed the deep fraternal and historical ties between the two countries, and the importance of moving forward with the implementation of the outcomes of previous leadership meetings to ensure the well-being and prosperity of the entire region.
