Iran, Saudi FMs meet for first time in seven years in Beijing

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
6 Apr 2023 08:22
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The landmark meeting sets a road for further cooperation between Iran and Saudi Arabia due to Chinese mediation, which in turn will extend regional cordiality and developments.

Iranian FM Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud during their meeting in Beijing on April 6, 2023 (Twitter/Frontline)

A month after Iran and Saudi Arabia struck a deal to restore diplomatic relations under Chinese mediation, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, met in Beijing on Thursday for the first meeting between their two countries' diplomats in seven years.

During the meeting, both officials exchanged views on issues related to bilateral matters, in addition to discussing steps to reopen embassies and pursue the official restoration of relations.

The foreign ministers concluded the meeting by signing a joint statement that affirms that both countries will coordinate efforts to ensure the full implementation of the Beijing agreement.

“The technical teams will continue coordination to examine the ways of expanding cooperation including the resumption of flights and bilateral visits of official and private sector delegations and facilitating the granting of visas for the citizens of the two countries,” the statement read.

Beijing was chosen as the meeting point to boost China's positive mediation and involvement in facilitating the agreement between both nations. China sponsored this landmark initiative after 7 years of strained diplomatic relations following Saudi Arabia's execution of Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr in January 2016.

This was conducted after a phone call between the ministers took place, which was the second after the summit in Beijing. In late March, the two had discussed the developments of the reestablishment of bilateral relations between the two countries.

They had reportedly talked mainly about the process to restore all diplomatic ties and considered it a top priority between the two Islamic nations.

Multiple developments after the agreement followed, such as an invitation by Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi to visit Riyadh, which he accepted.

In the invitation, King Salman bin Abdulaziz expressed his welcome to the agreement to resume diplomatic relations between the two countries and invited him for an official visit to Riyadh to initiate and develop bilateralism between the two countries.

Simultaneously, several Arab countries reflected their views on the re-establishment of diplomatic ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia, most notably the UAE, Egypt, and Qatar. The countries touched on the subject by expressing hope for the future.

The Saudi leadership expressed hope that the positive discussion with Iran will continue in light of the Chinese-sponsored agreement.