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Saudi - US vital agreement to tackle global issues steps up on green initiative | |
| Staff Writer |
US President Joe Biden’s visit to Saudi Arabia at the invitation of the Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz has led to a series of vital agreements in future industries and action plans to tackle dominant regional and international issues.
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The meeting, which included the presence of high-ranking officials, covered topic areas including energy security, climate cooperation, security and defense, technology, and regional considerations.
At the outset, the statement clarified that the US-Saudi partnership has been a “cornerstone of regional security over decades,” adding that both countries share the vision of a “secure, stable, and prosperous region, interconnected with the world.”
Noting the shared historic ties, both countries welcomed extending the validity of business and tourism visas to 10 years to facilitate greater social ties and economic cooperation.
The US appreciated the Saudi Green Initiative and Middle East Green Initiative and welcomed Saudi Arabia’s participation at the recent Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate. This is in line with the Kingdom’s goal to meet 50 percent of its electricity generation from renewables by 2030 and also in addition to finalizing the Partnership Framework for Advancing Clean Energy, which will see substantial investments in clean energy transition and addressing climate change, with particular focus on renewable energy, clean hydrogen, human capacity-building in the nuclear energy field, and more.
The statement said that the US and Saudi Arabia will also aim to invest in projects that support digital connectivity, supply chain sustainability, and climate and energy security focused on low- and middle-income countries as part of a global infrastructure push.
The US welcomed and appreciated Saudi Arabia’s vision that will continue to see economic and social reforms under the Vision 2030 banner. This includes efforts to increase women’s economic participation and promote interfaith dialogue, in addition to increasing Saudi investments in the American private sector.
The US also welcomed Saudi Arabia’s bid to host the World Expo 2030, which was last held in the neighboring UAE emirate of Dubai. Cooperation agreements in the field of tech, telecommunication, space, cybersecurity and public health were also signed.