A joint statement was issued today by the State of Qatar and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the occasion of the visit by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defense of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to Doha on December 8 and 9.
The text of the statement is as follows:
In light of the historic relations and strong brotherly bonds that connect the State of Qatar and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and based on the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud - may God protect him - His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud undertook an official visit to the State of Qatar on 4-5/5/1443 AH corresponding to 8-9/12/2021 AD. A discussion session was held between His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar, and his brother, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, during which they reviewed regional and international issues of mutual interest. They explored opportunities available in both countries across various fields including political, military, security, economic, commercial, investment, industrial, cultural, sports, environmental, energy, and infrastructure matters.
In a spirit of brotherhood, understanding, and mutual trust, the sixth meeting of the Qatari-Saudi Coordination Council was held, co-chaired by His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar, and his brother, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. The meeting was attended by members from both sides.
At the beginning of the meeting, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani welcomed the esteemed guest, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, expressing his happiness with the visit which lays the groundwork for exceptional bilateral relations and pushes them to broader horizons across all fields. He noted the care and attention given by his brother, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and his brother, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman in enhancing relations between the two brotherly countries. His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud conveyed the greetings of his brother, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and his wishes for His Highness good health and happiness, along with further progress and prosperity for the Qatari people. Both expressed their satisfaction with what was accomplished during the sixth session of the council in fulfilling its desired goals.
On the political front, both sides confirmed their intention to enhance cooperation on all political issues and to formulate common positions that guarantee the security and stability of the two brotherly countries. They emphasized the importance of continuing coordination and consultation regarding developments and updates at all bilateral and multilateral forums, contributing to achieving security, stability, and prosperity for both countries and the region.
Regarding security and military matters, both sides expressed their satisfaction with the military cooperation between the two countries, affirming the continuation of cooperation in this field, enhancing information sharing, joint visits, and training, benefiting from expertise in specialized areas, exchanging scholarships for military colleges and academies in both countries, and activating the signed security agreements between them.
In the economic and commercial sphere, both sides affirmed their determination to develop existing cooperation and work on increasing trade volume, facilitating commercial flow, and benefiting from economic, commercial, and industrial opportunities, enabling the private sector to drive trade exchange between the two countries to broader horizons that would enhance exports and diversify revenue sources. They also agreed to strengthen cooperation on international climate policies, implement the Green Middle East Initiative launched by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and collaborate on applying a circular carbon economy approach, striving to establish a regional complex for carbon capture, utilization, and storage to sustainably manage carbon emissions. Additionally, they discussed cooperation in energy efficiency, renewable energy, clean technologies for hydrocarbon resources, and developing projects related to these fields to ensure the sustainability of global energy supply.
The Saudi side expressed appreciation for Qatar's support for the important Green Middle East Initiative, particularly announcing the planting of one million trees before the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and ten million trees by 2030.
Both sides emphasized the importance of enhancing the benefits derived from electrical interconnection, maximizing the utilization of local content in energy sector projects, encouraging the purchase of manufactured products within both countries, and exchanging expertise. They also discussed collaboration to stimulate innovation, apply emerging technologies in the energy sectors, and develop an environment conducive to them.
They reaffirmed the need to enhance investment integration opportunities between the two countries in air transport, communications, and information technology sectors while promoting entrepreneurship and technology between companies from both countries and developing human resources in cybersecurity, financial technologies, and digital marketing. They also recognized the importance of leveraging opportunities associated with infrastructure projects, free zones, logistics, gas, energy, and incentives available to the business sector in both countries, especially during Qatar's hosting of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, to ensure the successful execution of this major event and achieve the visions of both countries for 2030.
In cultural and social matters, both sides agreed on the necessity of coordinating efforts to promote the positive image of citizens from both countries, particularly youth. They confirmed their efforts in hosting local and international cultural and sporting events, coordinating participation between both sides to achieve the desired outcomes and reflect the true image of youth from the two brotherly countries. They also agreed to implement programs and plans for bilateral promotion and marketing of cultural and entertainment festivals, seminars, and conferences that enhance cultural movement between them and to empower the private sector to exploit available opportunities and diverse potentials in both brotherly countries while working on developing human resources through training programs.
The two sides exchanged views on issues of mutual interest on regional and international arenas and confirmed their commitment to coordinating their positions to serve their interests and enhance security and stability in the region and the world. In this context, they reaffirmed the principles of the Al-Ula Declaration issued on January 5, 2021, and reviewed the vision of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, which was approved by the Supreme Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council during its 36th session in December 2015. They confirmed their support for achieving peace in the Middle East, the importance of reaching a comprehensive settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict based on the two-state solution, relevant international legitimacy resolutions, and the Arab Peace Initiative, ensuring the right of the Palestinian people to establish their state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. They also highlighted the significance of international efforts in providing humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people.
Regarding Yemen, both sides praised their aligned views on continuing efforts to find a comprehensive political solution to the Yemeni crisis based on the Gulf Initiative, its Executive Mechanism, the outputs of the National Dialogue Conference, and UN Security Council Resolution No. (2216). The Qatari side commended the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's initiative to end the Yemeni crisis and alleviate the humanitarian suffering of the Yemeni people.
They welcomed the successful electoral process in Iraq and expressed their wishes for the formation of an Iraqi government that continues to work for the security, stability, and development of Iraq.
They also welcomed the agreements reached by the transitional parties in Sudan and reaffirmed their continued support for all efforts that achieve security and stability in Sudan, wishing stability and prosperity for Sudan and its people.
On the Lebanese issue, both sides stressed the importance of implementing comprehensive reforms that ensure Lebanon overcomes its crises and that it does not become a launchpad for actions that destabilize the region or a transit point for drug trafficking.
Concerning Syria, both parties emphasized the importance of reaching a political solution to the crisis in Syria in accordance with the Geneva (1) Declaration and UN Security Council Resolution No. (2254) to end the humanitarian suffering of the Syrian people, preserve Syria's unity and territorial integrity, and support the efforts of the UN Special Envoy for Syria.
On the Libyan issue, they underscored the importance of reaching a political solution to the Libyan crisis in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions, achieving security and stability in the region.
Regarding Afghanistan, both sides affirmed the need to support security and stability in Afghanistan and to prevent any safe havens for terrorists and extremists in the country, emphasizing the necessity of continued international efforts to combat terrorism. They expressed the importance of supporting relief efforts and humanitarian work in Afghanistan. The Saudi side praised Qatar's mediation efforts to achieve peace in Afghanistan and its vital role in evacuating foreign nationals and reopening Kabul Airport. The Qatari side appreciated the Saudi Kingdom's call for an extraordinary meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation member states to discuss the situation in Afghanistan, which will be held in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on December 17, 2021.
They also affirmed the importance of serious and effective cooperation regarding Iran's nuclear and missile programs, including all components and implications, contributing to achieving regional and international security and stability, and reaffirming principles of good neighborliness and respect for international and UN resolutions, safeguarding the region from destabilizing activities.
Both parties commended their efforts in combating terrorism and its financing, as well as their joint efforts within the framework of the International Center for Targeting the Financing of Terrorism based in Riyadh.
At the conclusion of the visit, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defense of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, expressed his gratitude and appreciation to His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar, for the warm reception and generous hospitality extended to him and the accompanying delegation during their stay in their second country, the State of Qatar, and extended an invitation to His Highness to visit his second country, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to hold the seventh meeting of the Qatari-Saudi Coordination Council, with God's will.
