Arab News

Saudi-US Summit bolstered strategic ties between the two countries

- RASHID HASSAN & SHARIF TAHA

told Arab News, “We are really glad that President Trump came to Saudi Arabia on his maiden foreign tour as this signifies the depth of relations now enjoyed by the two countries.”

King Salman took this opportunit­y to invite Arab and Muslim leaders for the summit with President Trump where the leaders discussed key issues including Palestine, he said.

The visit is also significan­t from the economic and investment dimension between these two countries, Alkhunaizi added.

Youssef Al-Othaimeen, secretary-general of the Organizati­on of Islamic Cooperatio­n (OIC), congratula­ted King Salman on the success of the ArabIslami­c-American Summit and praised his speech on terrorism and extremism.

Majed Abdullah Al-Hedayan, a legal consultant and investment law expert, said President Trump arriving Saudi Arabia on his very first foreign tour and receiving a warm welcome in Riyadh is reflective of warmth in Saudi-US relations and will help bolster bilateral cooperatio­n.

President Trump choosing Saudi Arabia for the first foreign tour also signifies the importance of the Kingdom in internatio­nal affairs, he added.

Moreover, this visit reflects the importance of the Kingdom and its role in the making of safety and security of the world, he noted.

The CEO forum with top business leaders from the two countries sharing views on enhancing cooperatio­n further helped bolster bilateral relations, he underlined.

Abdulrahma­n Al-Harbi, head of foreign trade agency at the ministry of commerce and investment, said the Trump visit comes to signify the depth of relations between the two countries.

He said the volume of trade exchange between the two countries reached SR142 billion in 2016 while Saudi exports to the US stood at SR66 billion.

Abdul Rahim Hassan Al-Naqi, secre- tary-general of the Federation of Chambers of the GCC (FCGCC) Countries, said President Trump selecting the Kingdom for his first visit stresses the role and position of the Kingdom worldwide.

Moreover, diplomats at the Saudi Embassy in Washington said that President Trump’s visit stressed the strategic partnershi­p between the US and the Kingdom and will help bolster bilateral cooperatio­n between the two countries.

Commercial Attache Taha Al-Sharif said the visit would boost joint cooperatio­n, notably in the trade and investment areas that conform to the Saudi Vision 2030.

 ??  ?? King Salman, US President Donald Trump and leaders of Arab and Islamic countries at the Arab-Islamic-American Summit in Riyadh on Sunday. (Reuters)
King Salman, US President Donald Trump and leaders of Arab and Islamic countries at the Arab-Islamic-American Summit in Riyadh on Sunday. (Reuters)

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