KAZAN: Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah has said that the Kingdom would continue to strengthen its partnerships with BRICS countries and expand avenues of cooperation in all fields in pursuit of global development and prosperity, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Thursday.
He was speaking on behalf of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, at the BRICS Plus Summit 2024, held in Kazan, Russia, as an invited country to join the BRICS group.
During the summit, the foreign minister conveyed the greetings of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, to President Vladimir Putin and the leaders of the BRICS nations.
Prince Faisal highlighted the growing ties between Saudi Arabia and BRICS countries, noting that the volume of bilateral trade with BRICS nations exceeded $196 billion in 2023, accounting for 37% of the Kingdom’s total foreign trade. He added that the summit provides an opportunity to strengthen cooperation with BRICS countries to address global challenges and support sustainable development.
He expressed the Kingdom’s concern over escalating global tensions, stating: “At a time when we most need to confront global challenges, we witness rising tensions, polarization, and alignments that weaken the flexibility and effectiveness of multilateral forums. The Kingdom supports strengthening international institutions to meet the needs of all countries.”
During his address, the Saudi foreign minister also touched on developments in Gaza, stating, “The ongoing Israeli aggression poses a serious threat to regional and international security.” He warned that the current escalation has extended to Lebanon, cautioning that the continuation of this conflict will exacerbate the situation in the region. He stressed the need for an immediate ceasefire, interrupted humanitarian aid, the release of hostages, and a serious commitment to achieving lasting peace.
The foreign minister referred to the Saudi efforts to promote peace in the region, including the launch of the “Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution” initiative last month in cooperation with international partners. He added, “Granting the Palestinian people the right to self-determination is the only path to sustainable peace,” and praised the BRICS nations for their solidarity with the Palestinian cause and their support for a solution based on the establishment of an independent Palestinian state along the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
While concluding his speech, the minister affirmed that the Kingdom will continue to strengthen its partnerships with BRICS countries and expand avenues of cooperation in all fields in pursuit of global development and prosperity.
Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Russia, Abdulrahman bin Sulaiman Al-Ahmad, the Director General of the Office of the Foreign Minister, Abdulrahman Aldawood, the Director General of International Organizations, Shaher Al-Khonaini, and Mohammed Alyahya, the Advisor to the Foreign Minister Talso attended the summit.
