RIYADH: The “Riyadh Declaration” charts a roadmap for Saudi-African cooperation across various domains, reiterating historical relations and strategic partnerships, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Friday.
According to the SPA, the “Riyadh Declaration” statement was issued at the conclusion of the Saudi-African Summit held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia as follows: “Riyadh Declaration – Roadmap of Saudi-African Cooperation”.
“Upon the kind invitation made by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, King of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), the Saudi-African Summit was convened on November 10, 2023, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to further develop the ties between both sides across several avenues and bonds of joint cooperation and promote the strategic partnership between both sides, in appreciation of the historical relations that bring both sides together, the SPA added.
Riyadh Declaration of Saudi-African Summit Issued.https://t.co/xlDeX4dKeR#SPAGOV pic.twitter.com/9kYdE7Ls7w
— SPAENG (@Spa_Eng) November 10, 2023
The leaders convening at the Summit expressed satisfaction and comfort generated by the atmosphere conducive for such a fruitful talks that prevailed across the Summit and the consensus reached on the vision set to move forward on a whole host of current regional and global issues, while underscoring that the Summit represents a significant historical turning point in the ties, which the African nations and Saudi Arabia enjoy, the beating heart of the Islamic World, which will potentially open broader horizons for the future ties between the two sides and will further develop such ties across all sectors, the SPA maintained.
Saudi-African Summit
“In the same manner, the leaders at the summit have given a breath of fresh air and renewed their resolve to strengthening cooperation between the African nations and Saudi Arabia, driven by the joint strategic partnership, avenues of common interests, historical, geographical, and sociocultural relations that the African continent shares with Saudi Arabia. Equally significant, Saudi Arabia highlighted the significance of the historical relations with the African continent and its increasing interest in developing such ties with all the African nations across the economic, political, commercial, investment, cultural, development, and social sectors. In a similar vein, the leaders of the African nations paid tribute to the early support evinced by Saudi Arabia to herald and welcome the African Union while joining the G20 as a permanent member” Riyadh Declaration stated.
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The leaders highlighted the depth of the historical ties between Saudi Arabia and the African nations as the Riyadh provided, over the course of 50 years, development support worth of over $45 billion in many vital fields, which 46 African nations have benefited from, the SPA added.
The leaders also pointed out the diverse economic potentials of Saudi Arabia and the African nations and the opportunities provided by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s (KSA) Vision 2030 and the African Agenda 2063 to enhance cooperation in diverse sectors, which constitute a mutual economic benefit for the Saudi Arabia and the African nations. The leaders of African nations also affirmed their support for Saudi Arabia’s candidacy to host Expo 2030 in Riyadh, and for making every effort to back this candidacy. The leaders of African nations welcomed the Kingdom’s candidacy to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
Saudi Development Fund
The leaders agreed to discuss ways of strengthening the ties with the African nations by exploring investment areas and opportunities in light of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, as Saudi investments in the Africa will account for around SAR96 billion. The Saudi Development Fund will also finance development projects on the continent of Africa until 2030, at a cost of around SAR18.75 billion, the SPA added. Equally significant, exports from Saudi Arabia to the continent of Africa will also be financed and provided until 2030, at a cost of around SAR37.5.
The leaders of the African nations expressed appreciation and gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud for hosting the historic Summit, which reflects the leadership role undertaken by Saudi Arabia in the regional and global arenas, and the high esteem it holds and enjoys in the international community, the SPA maintained.
According to the SPA, they also discussed ongoing developments in the situation in Palestine, expressed their deep concern about the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, stressed the need to halt military operations in the Palestinian territories, and the need to protect civilian population in accordance with global law and humanitarian law, and stressed the significance of the role that world must play in putting pressure on the Israeli side to halt Israeli strikes and the forced displacement of Palestinian people from Gaza, which is a blatant violation of global humanitarian law and international laws.
The SPA added that moreover, the leaders stressed the need to enable global humanitarian organizations to play their role in giving relief and humanitarian aid to the Palestinians, including UN organizations, particularly the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), and to help its efforts in this connection. The leaders also stressed the necessity of ending the actual cause of the issue represented by the Israeli occupation forces, and the significance of intensifying efforts to reach a comprehensive and just solution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in accordance with the principle of the two-state solution, the Arab Peace Initiative, and the relevant global legitimacy resolutions, in a way that guarantees the people of Palestine their right to establish their independent state on the borders of 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital city, the SPA said.
According to the SPA, they stressed that it is important to respect the sovereignty of nations, non-interference in their respective domestic affairs and maintain good neighborliness based on the principles of mutual respect, and equality between all the nations as per international law. They also confirmed their resolve to further enhance defense cooperation to combat extremism and terrorism in all its forms, the SPA maintained. The leaders agreed to increase cooperation in maritime security to strengthening and maintaining the safety of maritime environment.
