PM arrives in Riyadh for special WEF meeting

Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb accompany premier on two-day visit

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday arrived in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to participate in a special meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) on “Global Collaboration, Growth, and Energy for Development”, being held from April 28-29.

Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al Khareeji, Pakistan’s ambassador to KSA and embassy staff received the prime minister and his delegation at the Riyadh Royal airport.

Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb are also included in the delegation.

The prime minister was invited to attend the WEF meeting by Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and WEF Founder and Executive Chairman Professor Klaus Schwab.

The diplomatic talks will focus trade and investment measures, new investment frameworks, restructuring of supply chains, sustainable growth, and energy landscape.

The forum will highlight Pakistan’s crucial priorities in global health architecture, inclusive growth, revitalising regional collaboration, and the need for striking a balance between promoting growth and energy consumption.

The prime minister and his delegation will hold bilateral meetings with world leaders, including the Saudi leadership, heads of international organisations, and other prominent figures participating in the event.

About 1,000 leaders from business, government, and academia will participate in the Special Meeting on Global Collaboration, Growth, and Energy for Development, the WEF said in a statement.

This is Shehbaz’s second trip to Saudi Arabia as premier this month.

Earlier in April, Prime Minister Shehbaz met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and discussed bilateral relations and matters of mutual interest, the Prime Minister’s Office Media Wing and the Saudi media reported.

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Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman welcomed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his delegation for an Iftar gathering at his Al-Safa Palace in Makkah, according to a report in the Saudi media.

The Prime Minister’s Office said that after the Iftar, the prime minister and the Saudi crown prince sat for a one-on-one meeting. It added that Prime Minister Shehbaz conveyed his best wishes for the health and well-being of the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques King Salman.

The prime minister expressed gratitude for the warm welcome accorded to him and his delegation. Both leaders appreciated the upward trajectory of longstanding fraternal relations and reaffirmed their common resolve to further strengthen bilateral ties, it added.

A week later, a high-level Saudi delegation, led by Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, arrived in Pakistan as part of efforts by Pakistan to attract investment from Riyadh.

“The visit is aimed at lending positive impetus to enhanced bilateral cooperation and mutually rewarding economic partnership,” a readout of the Foreign Office said.

It further noted that the visit took place essentially to expedite the follow-up on the understanding reached between the prime minister and the Saudi crown prince during their recent meeting in Makkah.