Saudi Arabia, Iran reaffirm commitment to implement Beijing agreement
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The first meeting of the Saudi-Chinese-Iranian Tripartite Committee in Beijing concludes.
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China Deputy Foreign Minister Deng Li (right) holds a group meeting with Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Eng. Waleed bin Abdulkarim al-Khuraiji (center) and his Iranian counterpart, Dr. Ali Bagheri Kani (left), to follow up on the Beijing Agreement in Beijing on December 15, 2023. (Handout photo from Saudi Press Agency)
Saudi Arabia and Iran have reiterated their complete support for the Beijing Agreement, ending the first meeting of the Saudi-Chinese-Iranian Tripartite Committee in Beijing on Friday.
The meeting was organized to follow up on the Beijing Agreement and was presided over by Deng Li, China's Deputy Foreign Minister. The Saudi mission was led by Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Khuraiji, and the Iranian delegation was led by Deputy Foreign Minister Dr. Ali Bagheri Kani.
The Chinese side reiterated its willingness to continue playing a constructive role to assist Saudi and Iranian efforts to improve relations.
The three touched upon numerous areas of cooperation and expressed their worry over the situation in Gaza, calling it a threat to regional and international peace and security.
They emphasized the need for an immediate ceasefire, as well as long-term relief for civilians and opposition to the forced displacement of Palestinians. They recognized that any agreement about Palestine's future must represent the choice of the Palestinian people, recognizing their right to self-determination and choosing their fate.
The participants decided to continue the tripartite committee meetings, with the next meeting slated for June 2024 in Saudi Arabia.
Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan held a meeting in Geneva on Wednesday to discuss the cooperative relations between their countries and the most recent developments in light of the Israeli aggression on Gaza.
Amir-Abdollahian expressed gratitude for the bilateral relations that both countries, two of the most influential countries in the region, aim to expand and enhance.
Faisal bin Farhan mirrored Amir-Abdollahian's satisfaction with the progress both their countries have seen since the development of their coalition.
"Fortunately, contacts and talks continue in other fields, and economic ministers have also started their talks and contacts, and Saudi Arabia welcomes this trend," he said, while also welcoming a larger scale of cooperation and diversification in Iran-Saudi relations.
He further expressed his country's contentment with hosting Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi and finally echoed Abdollahian's call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
