The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and his Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, received Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah yesterday (Thursday). An official reception ceremony was held for the Turkish president, during which the national anthems of the two countries were played.
After that, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques escorted his guest, the Turkish President, to the main reception hall of the Royal Court.
King Salman welcomed the Turkish president and his accompanying delegation, while Erdogan expressed his happiness at visiting Saudi Arabia and meeting the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and his Crown Prince. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques hosted an official dinner in honor of the Turkish President.
In addition, Prince Mohammed bin Salman held a meeting with Erdogan, during which they reviewed bilateral relations and opportunities to develop them in various fields. They also discussed the latest regional and international developments and the efforts made in this regard.
The Crown Prince receives the Turkish President in Jeddah yesterday (SPA)
Erdogan had arrived in Jeddah on a scheduled visit to Saudi Arabia, and he was in the forefront of his receivers at King Abdulaziz International Airport, Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Emir of Makkah Al-Mukarramah Region. He was also received by Dr. Musaed Al-Aiban, Minister of State, Member of the Cabinet and National Security Advisor. “The Accompanying Minister”, Saleh Al-Turki, Mayor of Jeddah, Muhammad Al-Harbi, Chargé d’Affairs at the Saudi Embassy in Ankara, Major General Saleh Al-Jabri, Director of Makkah Region Police, Issam Nour, Director of King Abdulaziz Airport, and Ahmed Dhafer, Director of the Royal Protocol Office in Makkah Al-Mukarramah Region.
In a press conference before heading to Saudi Arabia, Erdogan said that his visit is an example of the common will to start a new phase in relations, expressing his hope to improve relations on the basis of mutual respect and trust, stressing that his country attaches great importance to Saudi Arabia and the Arab Gulf states.
Erdogan considered that the visit “is an indication of the common will to start a new phase of cooperation as two brotherly countries,” noting that increasing cooperation with Saudi Arabia in the sectors of health, energy, food, security, defense and finance is beneficial to both sides, stressing that he will work to start a new era of “political cooperation.” And the military, the economic and the cultural with Saudi Arabia.” He explained that the leaderships of the two countries will review, during the visit, the Turkish-Saudi relations in their various dimensions, as well as regional and international issues.
Turkey is counting on the visit to strengthen relations with Saudi Arabia and the Arab Gulf states and open wider prospects for cooperation. The Turkish delegation accompanying President Erdogan includes several ministers, most notably the ministers of justice, trade, defense, culture and tourism, treasury and finance, as well as the head of intelligence, and parliamentarians from the ruling Justice and Development Party and its ally, the Nationalist Movement Party. Turkey seeks to raise the volume of trade exchange with Saudi Arabia, increase Saudi investments in Turkey, and forge partnerships with investments and extended contracts. Ankara believes that a positive atmosphere was achieved before Erdogan’s visit, which paved the way for work again to work and coordinate with regard to trade, investment and regional issues.
On the eve of Erdogan’s visit, Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan and his Turkish counterpart Nureddin Nebti held a virtual meeting, which he said they discussed ways to improve economic cooperation and also exchanged views regarding trade and investment.
It is noteworthy that Saudi imports from Turkey rose by 2.8% during the first quarter of this year, according to the data of the General Authority for Statistics in Saudi Arabia, to reach 19 million dollars, compared to 18.5 million dollars in the same period in 2021, as imports from Turkey declined by 62.3%, to $886 million, compared to $2.35 billion in 2020.
Saudi Arabia
Erdogan
the king Salman
Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia
Source: aawsat