Saudi Arabia strengthens its partnership with China and Eurasian countries

Saudi Arabia agreed to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization as a dialogue partner to the Eurasian Organization, which was founded in 2001 and is based in Beijing.
And the “Saudi Press Agency” reported the approval of the Saudi Council of Ministers, headed by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz, on Tuesday, on a memorandum on granting Saudi Arabia the status of a dialogue partner in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
Saudi Arabia’s agreement to join the organization reflects Saudi Arabia’s growing relations with China, and Reuters reported from sources that the issue of Saudi Arabia’s accession to the organization was discussed during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Saudi Arabia at the end of last year, and witnessed the holding of 3 summits between Beijing, Riyadh, the Gulf countries and other countries. Arab countries, while aspects of economy and trade topped the agenda of the visit.
Saudi Arabia’s accession to the organization, which brings together countries occupying a large area of ​​Eurasia, including China, India and Russia, would enhance its role and partnerships in the areas targeted by the organization, including strengthening policies of mutual trust and good neighborliness among member states.
The organization also works to combat terrorism, strengthen security and religious or ethnic extremism, cooperate in the political, commercial, economic, scientific, technical and cultural fields, in addition to transportation, education, energy, tourism and environmental protection, and provide peace, security and stability in the region.
It is expected that Saudi Arabia’s accession to the organization as a dialogue partner will be a first step before granting Saudi Arabia full membership and joining the eight full-fledged members of the organization, which together represent half of the world’s population and a quarter of the world’s gross domestic product.
And by joining as a dialogue partner, Saudi Arabia records the latest recent accession to the organization, which brings together eight member states. It is China, Russia and Kazakhstan, along with India and Pakistan, which were granted full membership during the Astana Summit in 2017, in addition to other countries of the former Soviet Union in Central Asia. It also includes other countries that have the status of observer or partner in the dialogue, such as Iran, Egypt and Qatar.
In addition, the Saudi Cabinet renewed its country’s condemnation of attempts to burn the Holy Qur’an, stressing the need to consolidate the values ​​of dialogue, tolerance and respect, and to reject everything that would spread hatred and extremism.
The Council discussed the outcomes of the ministerial meeting of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf at its 155th session, and the contents it contained on developments in joint Gulf action, and developments in political issues at the regional and international levels.
After the session held by the Council headed by King Salman bin Abdulaziz and held at the Peace Palace in Jeddah, on Tuesday, Salman Al-Dosari, the Saudi Minister of Information, explained in his statement to the “Saudi Press Agency” that the Council was briefed on the content of the phone calls that took place between the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, And the French and Chinese presidents, and the Iraqi prime minister, and what it included in reviewing relations and aspects of partnership and strengthening cooperation with Saudi Arabia.
The Council approved the authorization of the Minister of Energy, Chairman of the Board of Directors of King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy, or his representative, to discuss with the International Atomic Energy Agency regarding a draft agreement between King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the International Atomic Energy Agency regarding a program junior professional staff.
The council approved Saudi Arabia’s accession to the international coffee agreement, a headquarters agreement between Saudi Arabia and the International Dates Council, and a memorandum on granting Saudi Arabia the status of a dialogue partner in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
The Minister of Culture, or his representative, was authorized to discuss with the Senegalese and Argentine sides two draft memorandums of understanding for cooperation in the cultural field between the Ministry of Culture in Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of Culture and Historical Heritage in Senegal, and the Ministry of Culture in Argentina.
The Council authorized the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance, or his representative, to discuss with the Turkish side a draft memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance in Saudi Arabia and the Presidency of Religious Affairs in Turkey in the field of Islamic affairs, and to approve a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of tourism between the Ministry of Tourism In the Kingdom and the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism in Spain.
The Minister of Transport and Logistics Services, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, has been authorized, or his representative, to sign a draft agreement between Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom in the field of air transport services. While the Minister of Education, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation, or his representative, was authorized to discuss with the Chinese side a draft memorandum of understanding in the field of technical and vocational training between the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation in Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Commerce in People’s China, and to sign it.
The Saudi Council of Ministers approved a cooperation agreement between the Presidency of State Security in Saudi Arabia and the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) in India in the field of combating terrorist crimes and its financing, and authorized the President of the General Audit Bureau, or his representative, to discuss with the Chinese side a draft memorandum of understanding between the General Bureau Accounting in Saudi Arabia and the National Audit Office in China for cooperation in the field of accounting, oversight and professional work.
The Council also approved the implementation of the administrative organization of the governorates of “Jeddah, Taif, and Al-Ahsa” – issued in item “First” of Cabinet Resolution No. 187 dated 5-9-1435 AH, to the governorates of (Qatif, Khamis Mushait, Al-Khobar, Jubail, Hafar Al-Batin, Al-Kharj, and Yanbu), and amending Clause (Fourth) of the provisions regulating the National Tobacco Control Committee to be as follows: “The committee shall have a secretariat based in the Public Health Authority in Riyadh,” and amending a number of articles regulating the Human Rights Commission, issued by Cabinet Resolution No. 207 dated 8- 8- 1426 AH, and approval of two promotions to the fourteenth rank.
According to the statement of the Minister of Information, the Council reviewed a number of general topics on its agenda, including annual reports of the Ministry of Culture, the Royal Commission for Al-Ula Governorate, the National Risk Council, the Equestrian Commission, and the Prince Sultan Center for Defense Studies and Research, and the Council has taken the necessary measures regarding those topics.