السعودية وروسيا.. 100 عام على إقامة علاقات دبلوماسية بين بلدين صديقين

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, met today (Tuesday) in the Russian capital, Moscow, with the Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation, Sergey Lavrov. They held an official discussion session that addressed all aspects of bilateral relations, developments in regional and international situations, and ways to enhance cooperation and coordination between the two countries in various fields.

At the beginning of the meeting, the Foreign Minister expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the Russian Foreign Minister for the warm reception and generous hospitality, adding that this visit comes in a special year in which the Kingdom and Russia celebrate the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two friendly countries. He expressed his hope that the visit and the discussions during it would contribute to enriching dialogue and consultation between the two countries and enhancing paths of joint cooperation.

The minister emphasized that the relationship between the two friendly countries is based on mutual respect and common interests, noting that Saudi-Russian cooperation today encompasses a wide range of political and economic issues. This cooperation has proven its importance in supporting the stability of global energy markets and achieving a balance that considers the interests of producers and consumers, and has contributed to sustaining global economic growth, in addition to enhancing cooperation in economic, commercial, and investment fields.

For his part, the Russian Foreign Minister welcomed the Foreign Minister, affirming that Russia attaches special importance to this current visit, especially since this year marks the celebration of 100 years of diplomatic relations between Russia and the Kingdom. He stated that this occasion is a good opportunity to discuss the state of Russian-Saudi relations, which continue to develop year after year in commercial, economic, investment, cultural, and humanitarian fields, reiterating his country's sincere desire to contribute to efforts aimed at calming the situation and addressing regional issues.

During the discussions, both sides reviewed the course of Saudi-Russian relations and discussed developments in regional and international situations, as well as efforts to de-escalate tensions, emphasizing the importance of supporting the diplomatic path to address current regional and international challenges, including the Palestinian issue and the situation in Yemen, and the importance of ensuring the security and freedom of navigation in international waterways, particularly the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb.

The discussions also addressed the importance of enhancing coordination and consultation in international forums, supporting efforts to establish multilateral work, and reforming the international work system to be more effective in facing global conditions, and enhancing international security and peace.

At the conclusion of the discussions, both sides expressed their aspiration to push Saudi-Russian relations towards broader horizons, relying on a legacy that extends to 100 years of diplomatic relations and continuous cooperation, and launching it towards a second century that is more ambitious and expansive, reflecting the depth of the partnership between the two countries, serving their common interests, and supporting security, stability, development, and prosperity.

The meeting was attended by the Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to the Russian Federation, Sami Al-Sadhan, the Director General of the General Administration of European Countries, Ambassador Abdulrahman Al-Ahmad, and the Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mohammed Al-Yahya.