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Saudi-Iranian Foreign Ministers Meet in Beijing, Agree on Direct Flights of the Two Countries. PHOTO/SPA
BEIJING – Top diplomats Arab Saudi and Iran meet at China on Thursday (6/4/2023). This is their first meeting in more than seven years.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud met his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in the capital Beijing. It follows on from last month’s deal China brokered between the two sides.
“Both sides stressed the importance of following up on the implementation of the Beijing Agreement and its activation in a way that broadens mutual trust and confidence. cooperation and help create security, stability and prosperity in the region,” said a joint statement by the two sides, as quoted by Anadolu Agency.
The two sides agreed to expand cooperation in any field that can guarantee regional security and stability and realize the interests of the nation and state.
The top diplomats also “stressed their readiness to remove all obstacles facing the expansion of cooperation between the two countries.”
One of the agreements was to continue flights between the two countries and facilitate the granting of visas to citizens. The agreement also includes the granting of Umrah visas.
Along with the resumption of flights, the agreement details the start of arrangements to reopen the embassies of the two countries in Riyadh and Tehran and consulates in Jeddah and Mashhad.
The two countries also agreed to re-establish diplomatic relations through continuing visits by private sector officials and delegations.
Iran and Saudi Arabia severed ties in 2016 after the Saudi Embassy in Tehran was stormed by an angry mob following the execution of a Saudi Shiite cleric.
Starting April 2021, the two sides took part in marathon talks facilitated by Iraq and Oman, but it was China’s intervention that produced the breakthrough last month.
(esn)
