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Queen Elizabeth II receives Saudi crown prince at Buckingham Palace
British Queen Elizabeth II welcomed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday. (AFP)
Staff writer, Al Arabiya English
Wednesday, 7 March 2018
British Queen Elizabeth II welcomed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday during his first official visit to the UK.
The Crown Prince arrived in the UK on an official visit, in response to an invitation from the British government.
The schedule includes a meeting with Queen Elizabeth II, British Crown Prince Charles and Prime Minister Theresa May.
Queen Elizabeth had a welcome reception followed by a banquet organized for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the royal palace.
The British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson received Prince Mohammed upon his arrival in the UK late on Tuesday.
The first official meeting set for the Saudi royal on Wednesday, was visiting Buckingham Palace for talks with Queen Elizabeth and attending the reception banquet.
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II greets Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at Buckingham Palace in central London on March 7, 2018. (AFP)
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/Ne...-Saudi-crown-prince-at-Buckingham-Palace.html
Saudi crown prince arrives in London, meets Queen and Prime Minister
He will also meet with Prime Minister Theresa May and discuss how Saudi Arabia can be a reliable partner. (Photos courtesy: AlRiyadh)
Staff writer, Al Arabiya English
Wednesday, 7 March 2018
Britain’s grand welcome for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman began on Wednesday as he arrived in London.
He attended a lunch with Queen Elizabeth, as the two countries seek to widen longstanding defense ties into a far-reaching partnership.
He will also meet with Prime Minister Theresa May and discuss how Saudi Arabia can be a reliable partner as Britain seeks to forge new relationships after voting to quit the European Union.
Prince Mohammed was greeted at the airport by British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson.
The prince, who has overseen a series of domestic reforms and a crackdown on corruption since his appointment in June, will then travel on to meet President Donald Trump in Washington before visiting cities across the US.
UK-Saudi Strategic Partnership Council
Inside May’s Downing Street offices the two leaders will launch a “UK-Saudi Strategic Partnership Council” - an initiative to encourage Saudi Arabia’s economic reforms and foster more cooperation on issues such as education and culture, as well as defense and security.
“It will usher in a new era of bilateral relations, focused on a partnership that delivers wide-ranging benefits for both of us,” May’s spokesman told reporters.
Ahead of his visit to Britain, in an exclusive interview with The Telegraph published on Tuesday, the crown prince said the historic relationship between both countries is linked by common defense and business interests.
“The relationship between Saudi Arabia and Britain is historic and goes back to the foundation of the Kingdom,” he said. “We have a common interest that goes back to the earliest days of the relationship. Our relationship with Britain today is super.”
He added: “The British and Saudi people, along with the rest of the world, will be much safer if you have a strong relationship with Saudi Arabia.
“The extremists and the terrorists are linked through spreading their agenda,” he said. “We need to work together to promote moderate Islam.”
The crown prince spoke on the social changes currently being felt in Saudi Arabia that have come against a backdrop of sweeping reforms, which include a re-energized crackdown on hate speech and religious police, greater freedoms for women, a bustling entertainment scene and a pledge to “destroy extremism and return to moderate Islam.”
Prince Mohammed said: “People in Saudi Arabia have changed a lot because they travel to countries like Britain and see a different way of life.”
The crown prince is due to have private meetings with the heads of MI5 and MI6, as well as being invited to attend a meeting of the National Security Council - a rare privilege for a visiting foreign dignitary, the newspaper reports.
“We want to fight terrorism, and we want to fight extremism because we need to build stability in the Middle East,” he said.
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/Ne...ives-in-London-to-meet-with-Queen-and-PM.html
British MPs discuss Saudi-UK ties, Vision 2030 during crown prince visit
British MP: Saudi crown price’s visit will help cement close Saudi-UK relations. (Screengrab)
Staff writer, Al Arabiya English
Wednesday, 7 March 2018
In light of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to the UK, Al Arabiya News Channel spoke to British MPs on Saudi-UK ties.
Conservative MP Philip Hollobone, Leo Docherty and the Saudi-British Parliamentary Committee Chairman Mark Menzies stressed on the UK and Saudi Arabia's close relationship.
On the crown prince’s visit, Hollobone said that the royal visit “will help to cement those relations closer than ever.”
The MP also said that he hopes that this visit will “usher in a new era of even better and closer cooperation between our two kingdoms because the United Kingdom is important to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia” and vice versa. “I do think this is a very important visit and it is also an opportunity to celebrate what is a very warm and very important relationship across many sectors,” said MP Docherty.
Similarly, Hollobone said that on both occasions of his visit to Saudi Arabia, he had “favourable impressions.” The MP said that part of the challenges in the Saudi-UK relationship is “to explain to the people of the United Kingdom the benefit of even closer cooperation and the fact we [are] very close friends and the benefit of this to both our kingdoms.”
On reform and social change in Saudi Arabia, the MPs were impressed witht the “tremendous” reform the country is undergoing. Hollobone said: “Vision 2030 is an inspired concept led by the crown prince it will bring many benefits to Saudi Arabia and I think it will help the west to better understand the kingdom, I think it is a very welcome development, very much in the best interest of the kingdom itself and I think it will help integrate further Saudi Arabia into the world.”
Bilateral Saudi-UK relations
In Hollonbone’s opinion: “The strongest part of the relationship is the security cooperation. The fact is that, Saudi Arabia is a key intelligence partner for the United Kingdom in the Middle East, and without Saudi involvement there would have been more terrorist’s attacks on the streets here in London with more British people being killed. So the United Kingdom is very grateful for Saudi Arabia’s help in tackling the threat from terrorism.”
Also, the MP said that he expects more talks between both kingdoms on their “security relationship,” how they can support one another and how to “expand trade” between both of them.
On his end, Docherty said that: “Clearly, economically there is a great challenge for the kingdom to diversify its economy and to bring more Saudis into professions they would not normally have done and also there is a huge challenge underway to bring in more female members of the population in the work place. But actually, having travelled to Saudi Arabia and having been to many businesses I have been consistently impressed at the amazing standard of female Saudis in the work place.”
At the same time, Hollonbone said that one issue at hand is the British people’s misconception of Saudi Arabia. He said: “This is one of the big issues, most people in the UK really have no idea what modern Saudi Arabia is like, how friendly, welcoming, intelligent, and respectful modern Saudi Arabians are. I think the more we can tell the British people about the benefits of Saudi Arabia, the better that would be both for the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”
The MP sees that all the changes happening in Saudi Arabia will help the British people understand the new Saudi Arabia. He said: “One of the key changes recently is the issue with the veil, with women in Saudi Arabia increasingly not wearing the full face veil, having more freedom to do with driving, attending sporting events, the opening of cinemas. All these developments which we take for granted in the West, the more the British people understand what is happening in Saudi Arabia I think, the greater the benefits they will see of even a closer cooperation.”
Youth of Saudi Arabia are the future
Speaking to the youth of Saudi Arabia, Hollobone said: “My message to the young’s of Saudi Arabia is what a fantastic country you have been fortunate enough to be born into. The world is your oyster, and many of these young people come to the United Kingdom to study and to work and to learn English which they do extremely well. I think the youth of Saudi Arabia have a great chance to build even a better future for their country in the wider world.”
For Docherty, he sees that the challenge ahead of the Saudi youth “would be when the kingdom moves from petro hydrocarbon based economy which relied entirely on the supply of oil to drive its economy. The challenge now is to bring all of these young people into the work place to work hard and use your own ingenuity and effort to achieve your potential in the work place.”
Saudis helped to stop attacks in the UK
According to Hollobone, Saudi Arabia played a role in stopping terrorist attacks in the UK. On this he said: “Head of the intelligence service in the UK has made it clear that without Saudi intelligence and Saudi cooperation, there would have been more terrorist attacks in London with more fatalities.”
“We owe the kingdom of Saudi Arabia a great debt of thanks for their help in combatting terrorism,” he added.
On the UK’s role in Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, Hollobone said: “British companies have a wide range of expertise that would be relevant for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Defence, oil and petrochemicals, transport infrastructure, chemical developments, education and there will be many more.”
The MPs see that it would be beneficial if both nations were to increase trade and service cooperation.
Hollobone sees that Saudi-UK collaborations will bring on opportunity to tackle big issues in the region. He said: “I should think there is a lots of discussion between her majesty’s government here in the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia about defence and security issues. Saudi Arabia is a key country in the middle east, it is a zone of stability and security and we need Saudi Arabia to act as a bolster against Iran and its increased sponsorship of terrorism, not only in the Middle East and the Gulf, but further afield. So Saudi Arabia is absolutely a key country in the region and I hope the cooperation between UK and KSA goes from strength to strength.”
Finally, discussing latest updates on the UK’s decision to Brexit, the Hollobone said: “Brexit is a great news for the UK. Britain is going to be more prosperous and a happier country in ten years’ time than it is at the moment because of Brexit, and we need to strike trade deals with key upcoming countries such as Saudi Arabia and especially given the trade we have in defence at the moment. I hope we can build on that relationship a free trade relationship in the future.”
Last Update: Wednesday, 7 March 2018 KSA 13:27 - GMT 10:27
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/Ne...Saudi-UK-ties-during-crown-prince-visit-.html
UK PM May says links with Saudi Arabia have saved British lives
Theresa May: The link that we have with Saudi Arabia is historic and it is an important one. (Reuters)
Reuters, LondonWednesday, 7 March 2018
Prime Minister Theresa May defended Britain’s links to defense and security ally Saudi Arabia in parliament on Wednesday, saying cooperation had helped save the lives of hundreds of people.
“The link that we have with Saudi Arabia is historic, it is an important one, and it has saved the lives of potentially hundreds of people in this country,” May said in response to a question from opposition Labor Party leader Jeremy Corbyn.
Last Update: Wednesday, 7 March 2018 KSA 15:27 - GMT 12:27
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/Ne...th-Saudi-Arabia-have-saved-British-lives.html
Saudi Crown Prince meets with PM Theresa May during landmark UK visit
ARAB NEWS | Published — Wednesday 7 March 2018
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman arrives at 10 Downing Street for a meeting with UK PM Theresa May. (AFP)
LONDON: Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with UK Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday for talks at 10 Downing Street.
The visit came after the Crown Prince had been greeted by Queen Elizabeth II, with whom he had lunch at Buckingham Palace.
He is then scheduled to dine with Prince Charles and Prince William later in the day.
Earlier on Wednesday, the UK's Prime Minister Theresa May defended Britain's links to its defense and security ally Saudi Arabia in Parliament, saying cooperation had helped save the lives of hundreds of people.
"The link that we have with Saudi Arabia is historic, it is an important one, and it has saved the lives of potentially hundreds of people in this country," May said in response to a question from opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn.
The PM added that the UK has had a "longstanding and historic relationship with the kingdom of Saudi Arabia and that will continue."
She said, under the Crown Prince, that Saudi Arabia "is reforming, is changing, is giving more rights to women" and that the UK will "stand alongside" Saudi Arabia to deliver on his vision.
Foreign minister Boris Johnson led the welcoming party for Prince Mohammed on his arrival late on Tuesday. The visit to Buckingham Palace to see Queen Elizabeth was the first engagement for the Crown Prince on Wednesday
The Saudi Arabian delegation are meeting May and senior ministers inside May's Downing Street offices to launch a UK-Saudi "Strategic Partnership Council" — an initiative to encourage Saudi Arabia's economic reforms and foster cooperation on issues such as education and culture, as well as defense and security.
The three-day visit is also due to include a meeting with Archbishop of Cantebury Justin Welby, as well as lunch with May at the Prime Minister's rural retreat, Chequers, and talks with Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson.
http://www.arabnews.com/node/1261106/saudi-arabia
Art show in London showcases Saudi Arabia’s cultural capital
OLIVIA CUTHBERT | Published — Wednesday 7 March 2018
The event runs from March 7-9 from 10am to 6pm in the Phillips building in Berkeley Square, London. (AN Photo)
LONDON: Londoners gained a glimpse of the wealth of creativity driving Saudi Arabia’s arts scene at an exhibition that opened in Berkeley Square on Wednesday.
Running under the theme “Whole-istic,” the three-day event showcases the span of Saudi culture, from the traditions and heritage that shaped its past to the creativity and ambition powering today’s cultural evolution.
It is being held to coincide with a visit by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the UK.
The program features film screenings followed by discussions with directors, art exhibitions displaying traditional and contemporary works as well as music performances and unique insights into some of the Kingdom’s most extraordinary attractions through interactive digital displays.
The event, organized by Saudi Arabia’s General Culture Authority (GCA) in cooperation with the Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Foundation (MiSK) and Phillips, is being held under the the patronage of Minister of Culture and Information Awwad Al-Awwad, chairman of the board of directors of GCA and Ahmed Al-Maziad, CEO of the GCA.
“Saudi Arabia has been a melting pot and crossroads of civilizations for 9,000 years. Our goal in London is to showcase both our history and contemporary Saudi culture and we invite everyone in London to come and experience the past, present and future with us,” Al-Maziad said in a statement.
Some of the biggest names in contemporary Saudi art and film are represented through exhibitions spanning two floors, with screenings of the award-winning movie “The Bliss of Being No One” in addition to “A Colorful Life,” a documentary produced by the GCA exploring female empowerment, which will be shown on March 8 to coincide with International Women’s Day.
Other highlights include a photo exhibition chronicling a visit to Saudi Arabia in 1938 by Princess Alice, the youngest granddaughter of Queen Victoria and the first member of the British royal family to go to Saudi Arabia.
The event runs from March 7-9 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Phillips building in Berkeley Square, London.
http://www.arabnews.com/node/1261141/saudi-arabia#photo/2
Forget ‘stereotypes’ about Saudi Arabia, UK firms urged
REBECCA SPONG | Published — Wednesday 7 March 2018
— Afnan AlShuaiby Head of the Arab-BritishChamber of Commerce
LONDON: The visit to the UK by the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, this week will set the stage for a new trading relationship between the two countries, Dr. Afnan AlShuaiby, head of the Arab-British Chamber of Commerce, predicted.
Sitting in her Mayfair office, AlShuaiby told Arab News that with Brexit on the horizon and the Kingdom seeking to diversify its economy, “the sky is the limit” when it comes to business and trade partnerships.
The crown prince arrives in London on Wednesday and will hold talks with the British prime minister, Theresa May, as well as senior business and intelligence figures.
AlShuaiby said she is optimistic the visit will encourage more UK companies to invest in Saudi Arabia. Britain’s decision to leave the EU made it even more important for British companies to focus on improving trade relations with partners outside Europe, she said.
“I would like to see more British interest in Saudi Arabia and more companies investing in Saudi Arabia, whether they are small and medium companies or even the bigger companies that haven’t explored or been in Saudi Arabia,” she said.
“(The crown prince’s visit) is going to be a very good opportunity for the two sides to finalize agreements together and a way to move forward,” she said. “I would like to see solid agreements come out of it.”
AlShuaiby urged people to look beyond preconceived ideas about Saudi Arabia and consider the benefits the visit could have on UK business and trade.
“When a guest comes, they should be welcomed. That’s a courtesy for any place,” she said
“People don’t know what’s happening in Saudi Arabia, specifically in the past two years. There’s a lot of positivity on all levels and a lot of reforms. I haven’t seen that in the UK media — there is no interest,” she said.
Changes that have made headlines in the UK include the decision last year to allow women to drive, as well as the crown prince’s anti-corruption drive that resulted in hundreds of businessmen and ministers being detained in the luxury Ritz-Carlton hotel in Riyadh last November.
AlShuaiby has been at the forefront of efforts to strengthen business links between the UK and Saudi Arabia since she was appointed secretary general and chief executive of the chamber just over a decade ago. She is the first woman to be appointed to the role in the 40-year history of the organization, set up in the mid-1970s to encourage trade between the UK and other Arab League countries.
The Saudi national gained her first degree at the King Saud University in Riyadh, and went on to complete an MA in educational administration at the American University, followed by a Ph.D. in leadership administration at George Washington University, both in Washington.
In her role at the chamber, she has spearheaded conferences, research services, forums and other networking events to help make key introductions between UK companies and their Saudi Arabian and Arab League counterparts. “We are the matchmaker,” she said.
In 2016, UK exports to Saudi Arabia were worth $6.62 billion compared with $3 billion in 2006, according to World Bank data.
With Saudi Arabia pushing forward with plans to diversify the country’s economy and its reliance on oil, AlShuaiby said business opportunities for UK companies are only likely to grow. The Kingdom’s Vision 2030 strategy, launched in 2016, set out a timetable for economic diversification and social reform.
“The sky is the limit,” she said, noting health care, education, research and development, and cybersecurity as areas of mutual interest between the two countries. There is a “big move” toward renewables as well, she said.
The film and cinema industry is opening up to outside investment, following a decision in December to lift the 35-year ban on cinemas in the Kingdom. Last month, the UK-based cinema chain Vue International signed an agreement with a Saudi partner to open about 30 multiplexes in the Kingdom.
“I think the focus of the visit is going to be geared more toward business and Vision 2030. There is a tremendous move in Saudi Arabia, and things are moving very fast,” she said.
“It is very important that the UK embarks and becomes a strategic partner in this whole vision.
“I would like the government to encourage the private sector in the UK. People need to be reassured — and if the government reassures them, they are more comfortable and will have a better appetite for working with Saudi Arabia,” she said.
AlShuaiby explained that some UK businesses, particularly small-to-medium-sized firms, are reluctant to operate in the Kingdom due to “old stereotypes” about the country.
“British businesses are still a little bit cautious about doing business in Saudi Arabia,” she said, referring to concerns about the country’s business climate and the law surrounding commercial disputes. She insisted that “things have changed” with regard to the legal system.
“We need a different way of viewing things. Not the average stereotype of Saudi Arabia — the desert and camel. That is part of our history and our culture, and we are proud of it, but we have also built skyscrapers. It is a very modern country,” she said.
AlShuaiby called on larger UK firms already active in the Kingdom to “mentor” smaller companies.
AlShuaiby’s comments are backed up by a recent World Bank report, “Doing Business in 2018,” which found that the Kingdom had implemented six key reforms last year, the largest number in the Middle East and North Africa region.
The report, published in December, said it was now easier to start a business, register property, enforce contracts and trade across borders in the Kingdom. The bank’s country director for Saudi Arabia, Nadir Mohammed, said such efforts “send a strong signal to investors interested in investing in the Kingdom.”
Given these improvements, AlShuaiby warns that Saudi Arabia is no longer a place to fly in and out of to make a quick buck. Only “serious” UK investors are wanted, she said.
“This is the message I would like to send out — is we need a long-term sustainable partner. We want to be partners for a long time,” she said.
“We need a bigger British presence in Saudi Arabia. We want serious people who are willing to pay for their plane ticket and a couple of nights’ hotel (accommodation) and have organized meetings with an objective. That’s what we are looking for,” she said.
http://www.arabnews.com/node/1260811/saudi-arabia
BORIS JOHNSON | Published — Friday 2 March 2018
Future of Saudi Arabia, Muslim world depends on success of Crown Prince
It was 73 years ago — almost to the day — that Winston Churchill travelled to Fayoum Oasis in Egypt for a meeting with the king of Saudi Arabia.
“His own cup-bearer from Mecca offered me a glass of water from its sacred well, the most delicious that I had ever tasted,” wrote Churchill of this encounter with King Abdulaziz al Saud.
If that meeting in the desert was an early chapter in relations between Britain and Saudi Arabia, then we will turn a new page on March 7 when his grandson, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, visits London.
There will be those who would object to engaging with a kingdom that is a powerhouse of the Middle East and, incidentally, one of Britain’s oldest friends in the region.
If you have any sympathy with such views, then let me highlight a few salient facts.
In the eight months since Mohammed bin Salman became crown prince, Saudi Arabia has introduced exactly the kind of reforms that we have always advocated.
The ban on women driving has been overturned. Gender segregation has been relaxed. The kingdom has adopted an official target for women to account for 30 per cent of the workforce: in February women were allowed to register their own businesses. Women now attend sporting events and from next month cinemas will open their doors to everyone.
If you are inclined to dismiss these advances, then I will respectfully suggest that you are making a profound mistake. Change does not come easily in Saudi Arabia. In a matter of a few months, genuine reform has taken place after decades of stasis.
And that fact tells an important story. The crown prince and his father King Salman have together embarked on the social and economic renewal of Saudi Arabia, launching a national programme known as Vision 2030. In October the crown prince said that the overarching goal was to build a “country of moderate Islam that is open to all religions and to the world”. He also promised to “eradicate promoters of extremist thoughts”.
Tens of thousands of British jobs depend on our exports to Saudi Arabia
Boris Johnson
If you are tempted to brush off those phrases as platitudes aimed at outsiders, consider that the crown prince was speaking not in English in some western capital but in Arabic to an audience in Riyadh. His words have been given meaning by the establishment in his capital of a new centre to counter the financing of terrorism.
What conclusion should we draw? I believe that the crown prince, who is only 32, has demonstrated by word and deed that he aims to guide Saudi Arabia in a more open direction.
The worst response would be for Britain to criticise from the sidelines or shun the kingdom altogether; instead our role must be to encourage him along this path.
Be in no doubt: the future of Saudi Arabia — and indeed the region and the wider Muslim world — depends on his success.
Hence the importance of the crown prince’s visit to London. This will be a chance to strengthen our relationship with Saudi Arabia, both as an end in itself and as the best means of promoting reform.
I will not minimise Britain’s differences with the kingdom. I want Saudi Arabia to do more to protect human rights. But we cannot deliver these messages or resolve our disagreements unless we meet the kingdom’s leaders.
Nor can we uphold the British national interest. Remember that tens of thousands of British jobs depend on our exports to Saudi Arabia, which climbed to £6.2 billion in 2016, a 41 per cent rise since 2010. When it comes to keeping Britain safe, intelligence from Saudi Arabia has been crucial in the struggle against terrorism. The simple truth is that British lives have been saved and attacks prevented because of our security cooperation with Saudi Arabia.
This relationship has long been important for global security. Saudi Arabia was a firm ally during the Cold War and, amid all the turbulence of the Middle East, the kingdom has generally acted as a force for stability and moderation. It was the late King Abdullah who threw his diplomatic weight behind a two-state solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict by proposing the bold Arab Peace Initiative.
Today Britain and Saudi Arabia are working together to counter Iran’s disruptive behaviour in the Middle East and bring the war in Yemen to an end. Last year King Salman took the far-sighted decision to pursue a rapprochement with the Shia-led government in Iraq, something that will help to stabilise the country after the defeat of ISIS.
You might reply that far more needs to be done to reach a peaceful settlement in Yemen and ensure that aid gets through to everyone in need. I agree. That is exactly why we need to discuss these vital matters with the crown prince during his visit to the UK.
Our foreign policy is designed to promote the safety and prosperity of the British people while upholding our values as a force for good. We cannot achieve any of these goals unless we meet the leaders of Saudi Arabia on equal and friendly terms.
That was true when Churchill drank the spring water of Mecca with Ibn Saud in 1945, and it remains true today.
http://www.arabnews.com/node/1257801
SAUDI ARABIA
DEVELOPING
Saudi crown prince begins landmark UK visit
JONATHAN LESSWARE | Published — Wednesday 7 March 2018
LONDON: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman landed in the UK Tuesday on a landmark trip with a broad agenda spanning business, defense and political ties.
During the three-day visit, Crown Prince Mohammed is expected to meet Prime Minister Theresa May, the Queen (full gallery here) and other members of the British royal family.
His arrival in Britain has been highly anticipated, with extensive media coverage of relations between the two countries in the build-up.
Billboards highlighting the visit have been erected in parts of London and along major highways into the capital.
One shows the flags of the two countries with “United Kingdoms” written across the top. Another shows Crown Prince Mohammed with the slogan “He is bringing change to Saudi Arabia.”
Crown Prince Mohammed said the two countries enjoyed historic ties that dated back more than 100 years to the foundation of the Kingdom.
“We have a common interest that goes back to the earliest days of the relationship,” he said in an interview with The Daily Telegraph newspaper published yesterday. “Our relationship with Britain today is super,” he said.
Events scheduled for the visit include a forum on business partnerships between the two countries and a discussion meeting at Chatham House.
Business relations are expected to be a key feature of the visit.
Saudi Arabia is the UK’s largest trading partner in the Middle East with the flow of goods and services between the two countries in 2016 worth more than £8 billion, according to the Financial Times.
Britain could be a major beneficiary of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 economic plan to diversify the economy away from oil, Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir said.
“After Brexit, there will be huge opportunities for Britain as a result of Vision 2030,” he told the BBC.
The British prime minister has welcomed the visit as a chance to strengthen relations.
“The partnership between the UK and Saudi Arabia already helps make both our countries safer through intelligence-sharing which has saved British lives, and more prosperous, with thousands of jobs created in the UK and substantial opportunities for British companies in Saudi Arabia,” the PM’s office said.
http://www.arabnews.com/node/1260766/saudi-arabia
British Queen Elizabeth II welcomed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday. (AFP)
Staff writer, Al Arabiya English
Wednesday, 7 March 2018
British Queen Elizabeth II welcomed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday during his first official visit to the UK.
The Crown Prince arrived in the UK on an official visit, in response to an invitation from the British government.
The schedule includes a meeting with Queen Elizabeth II, British Crown Prince Charles and Prime Minister Theresa May.
Queen Elizabeth had a welcome reception followed by a banquet organized for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the royal palace.
The British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson received Prince Mohammed upon his arrival in the UK late on Tuesday.
The first official meeting set for the Saudi royal on Wednesday, was visiting Buckingham Palace for talks with Queen Elizabeth and attending the reception banquet.
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II greets Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at Buckingham Palace in central London on March 7, 2018. (AFP)
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/Ne...-Saudi-crown-prince-at-Buckingham-Palace.html
Saudi crown prince arrives in London, meets Queen and Prime Minister
He will also meet with Prime Minister Theresa May and discuss how Saudi Arabia can be a reliable partner. (Photos courtesy: AlRiyadh)
Staff writer, Al Arabiya English
Wednesday, 7 March 2018
Britain’s grand welcome for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman began on Wednesday as he arrived in London.
He attended a lunch with Queen Elizabeth, as the two countries seek to widen longstanding defense ties into a far-reaching partnership.
He will also meet with Prime Minister Theresa May and discuss how Saudi Arabia can be a reliable partner as Britain seeks to forge new relationships after voting to quit the European Union.
Prince Mohammed was greeted at the airport by British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson.
The prince, who has overseen a series of domestic reforms and a crackdown on corruption since his appointment in June, will then travel on to meet President Donald Trump in Washington before visiting cities across the US.
UK-Saudi Strategic Partnership Council
Inside May’s Downing Street offices the two leaders will launch a “UK-Saudi Strategic Partnership Council” - an initiative to encourage Saudi Arabia’s economic reforms and foster more cooperation on issues such as education and culture, as well as defense and security.
“It will usher in a new era of bilateral relations, focused on a partnership that delivers wide-ranging benefits for both of us,” May’s spokesman told reporters.
Ahead of his visit to Britain, in an exclusive interview with The Telegraph published on Tuesday, the crown prince said the historic relationship between both countries is linked by common defense and business interests.
“The relationship between Saudi Arabia and Britain is historic and goes back to the foundation of the Kingdom,” he said. “We have a common interest that goes back to the earliest days of the relationship. Our relationship with Britain today is super.”
He added: “The British and Saudi people, along with the rest of the world, will be much safer if you have a strong relationship with Saudi Arabia.
“The extremists and the terrorists are linked through spreading their agenda,” he said. “We need to work together to promote moderate Islam.”
The crown prince spoke on the social changes currently being felt in Saudi Arabia that have come against a backdrop of sweeping reforms, which include a re-energized crackdown on hate speech and religious police, greater freedoms for women, a bustling entertainment scene and a pledge to “destroy extremism and return to moderate Islam.”
Prince Mohammed said: “People in Saudi Arabia have changed a lot because they travel to countries like Britain and see a different way of life.”
The crown prince is due to have private meetings with the heads of MI5 and MI6, as well as being invited to attend a meeting of the National Security Council - a rare privilege for a visiting foreign dignitary, the newspaper reports.
“We want to fight terrorism, and we want to fight extremism because we need to build stability in the Middle East,” he said.
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/Ne...ives-in-London-to-meet-with-Queen-and-PM.html
British MPs discuss Saudi-UK ties, Vision 2030 during crown prince visit
British MP: Saudi crown price’s visit will help cement close Saudi-UK relations. (Screengrab)
Staff writer, Al Arabiya English
Wednesday, 7 March 2018
In light of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to the UK, Al Arabiya News Channel spoke to British MPs on Saudi-UK ties.
Conservative MP Philip Hollobone, Leo Docherty and the Saudi-British Parliamentary Committee Chairman Mark Menzies stressed on the UK and Saudi Arabia's close relationship.
On the crown prince’s visit, Hollobone said that the royal visit “will help to cement those relations closer than ever.”
The MP also said that he hopes that this visit will “usher in a new era of even better and closer cooperation between our two kingdoms because the United Kingdom is important to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia” and vice versa. “I do think this is a very important visit and it is also an opportunity to celebrate what is a very warm and very important relationship across many sectors,” said MP Docherty.
Similarly, Hollobone said that on both occasions of his visit to Saudi Arabia, he had “favourable impressions.” The MP said that part of the challenges in the Saudi-UK relationship is “to explain to the people of the United Kingdom the benefit of even closer cooperation and the fact we [are] very close friends and the benefit of this to both our kingdoms.”
On reform and social change in Saudi Arabia, the MPs were impressed witht the “tremendous” reform the country is undergoing. Hollobone said: “Vision 2030 is an inspired concept led by the crown prince it will bring many benefits to Saudi Arabia and I think it will help the west to better understand the kingdom, I think it is a very welcome development, very much in the best interest of the kingdom itself and I think it will help integrate further Saudi Arabia into the world.”
Bilateral Saudi-UK relations
In Hollonbone’s opinion: “The strongest part of the relationship is the security cooperation. The fact is that, Saudi Arabia is a key intelligence partner for the United Kingdom in the Middle East, and without Saudi involvement there would have been more terrorist’s attacks on the streets here in London with more British people being killed. So the United Kingdom is very grateful for Saudi Arabia’s help in tackling the threat from terrorism.”
Also, the MP said that he expects more talks between both kingdoms on their “security relationship,” how they can support one another and how to “expand trade” between both of them.
On his end, Docherty said that: “Clearly, economically there is a great challenge for the kingdom to diversify its economy and to bring more Saudis into professions they would not normally have done and also there is a huge challenge underway to bring in more female members of the population in the work place. But actually, having travelled to Saudi Arabia and having been to many businesses I have been consistently impressed at the amazing standard of female Saudis in the work place.”
At the same time, Hollonbone said that one issue at hand is the British people’s misconception of Saudi Arabia. He said: “This is one of the big issues, most people in the UK really have no idea what modern Saudi Arabia is like, how friendly, welcoming, intelligent, and respectful modern Saudi Arabians are. I think the more we can tell the British people about the benefits of Saudi Arabia, the better that would be both for the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”
The MP sees that all the changes happening in Saudi Arabia will help the British people understand the new Saudi Arabia. He said: “One of the key changes recently is the issue with the veil, with women in Saudi Arabia increasingly not wearing the full face veil, having more freedom to do with driving, attending sporting events, the opening of cinemas. All these developments which we take for granted in the West, the more the British people understand what is happening in Saudi Arabia I think, the greater the benefits they will see of even a closer cooperation.”
Youth of Saudi Arabia are the future
Speaking to the youth of Saudi Arabia, Hollobone said: “My message to the young’s of Saudi Arabia is what a fantastic country you have been fortunate enough to be born into. The world is your oyster, and many of these young people come to the United Kingdom to study and to work and to learn English which they do extremely well. I think the youth of Saudi Arabia have a great chance to build even a better future for their country in the wider world.”
For Docherty, he sees that the challenge ahead of the Saudi youth “would be when the kingdom moves from petro hydrocarbon based economy which relied entirely on the supply of oil to drive its economy. The challenge now is to bring all of these young people into the work place to work hard and use your own ingenuity and effort to achieve your potential in the work place.”
Saudis helped to stop attacks in the UK
According to Hollobone, Saudi Arabia played a role in stopping terrorist attacks in the UK. On this he said: “Head of the intelligence service in the UK has made it clear that without Saudi intelligence and Saudi cooperation, there would have been more terrorist attacks in London with more fatalities.”
“We owe the kingdom of Saudi Arabia a great debt of thanks for their help in combatting terrorism,” he added.
On the UK’s role in Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, Hollobone said: “British companies have a wide range of expertise that would be relevant for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Defence, oil and petrochemicals, transport infrastructure, chemical developments, education and there will be many more.”
The MPs see that it would be beneficial if both nations were to increase trade and service cooperation.
Hollobone sees that Saudi-UK collaborations will bring on opportunity to tackle big issues in the region. He said: “I should think there is a lots of discussion between her majesty’s government here in the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia about defence and security issues. Saudi Arabia is a key country in the middle east, it is a zone of stability and security and we need Saudi Arabia to act as a bolster against Iran and its increased sponsorship of terrorism, not only in the Middle East and the Gulf, but further afield. So Saudi Arabia is absolutely a key country in the region and I hope the cooperation between UK and KSA goes from strength to strength.”
Finally, discussing latest updates on the UK’s decision to Brexit, the Hollobone said: “Brexit is a great news for the UK. Britain is going to be more prosperous and a happier country in ten years’ time than it is at the moment because of Brexit, and we need to strike trade deals with key upcoming countries such as Saudi Arabia and especially given the trade we have in defence at the moment. I hope we can build on that relationship a free trade relationship in the future.”
Last Update: Wednesday, 7 March 2018 KSA 13:27 - GMT 10:27
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/Ne...Saudi-UK-ties-during-crown-prince-visit-.html
UK PM May says links with Saudi Arabia have saved British lives
Theresa May: The link that we have with Saudi Arabia is historic and it is an important one. (Reuters)
Reuters, LondonWednesday, 7 March 2018
Prime Minister Theresa May defended Britain’s links to defense and security ally Saudi Arabia in parliament on Wednesday, saying cooperation had helped save the lives of hundreds of people.
“The link that we have with Saudi Arabia is historic, it is an important one, and it has saved the lives of potentially hundreds of people in this country,” May said in response to a question from opposition Labor Party leader Jeremy Corbyn.
Last Update: Wednesday, 7 March 2018 KSA 15:27 - GMT 12:27
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/Ne...th-Saudi-Arabia-have-saved-British-lives.html
Saudi Crown Prince meets with PM Theresa May during landmark UK visit
ARAB NEWS | Published — Wednesday 7 March 2018
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman arrives at 10 Downing Street for a meeting with UK PM Theresa May. (AFP)
LONDON: Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with UK Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday for talks at 10 Downing Street.
The visit came after the Crown Prince had been greeted by Queen Elizabeth II, with whom he had lunch at Buckingham Palace.
He is then scheduled to dine with Prince Charles and Prince William later in the day.
Earlier on Wednesday, the UK's Prime Minister Theresa May defended Britain's links to its defense and security ally Saudi Arabia in Parliament, saying cooperation had helped save the lives of hundreds of people.
"The link that we have with Saudi Arabia is historic, it is an important one, and it has saved the lives of potentially hundreds of people in this country," May said in response to a question from opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn.
The PM added that the UK has had a "longstanding and historic relationship with the kingdom of Saudi Arabia and that will continue."
She said, under the Crown Prince, that Saudi Arabia "is reforming, is changing, is giving more rights to women" and that the UK will "stand alongside" Saudi Arabia to deliver on his vision.
Foreign minister Boris Johnson led the welcoming party for Prince Mohammed on his arrival late on Tuesday. The visit to Buckingham Palace to see Queen Elizabeth was the first engagement for the Crown Prince on Wednesday
The Saudi Arabian delegation are meeting May and senior ministers inside May's Downing Street offices to launch a UK-Saudi "Strategic Partnership Council" — an initiative to encourage Saudi Arabia's economic reforms and foster cooperation on issues such as education and culture, as well as defense and security.
The three-day visit is also due to include a meeting with Archbishop of Cantebury Justin Welby, as well as lunch with May at the Prime Minister's rural retreat, Chequers, and talks with Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson.
http://www.arabnews.com/node/1261106/saudi-arabia
Art show in London showcases Saudi Arabia’s cultural capital
OLIVIA CUTHBERT | Published — Wednesday 7 March 2018
The event runs from March 7-9 from 10am to 6pm in the Phillips building in Berkeley Square, London. (AN Photo)
LONDON: Londoners gained a glimpse of the wealth of creativity driving Saudi Arabia’s arts scene at an exhibition that opened in Berkeley Square on Wednesday.
Running under the theme “Whole-istic,” the three-day event showcases the span of Saudi culture, from the traditions and heritage that shaped its past to the creativity and ambition powering today’s cultural evolution.
It is being held to coincide with a visit by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the UK.
The program features film screenings followed by discussions with directors, art exhibitions displaying traditional and contemporary works as well as music performances and unique insights into some of the Kingdom’s most extraordinary attractions through interactive digital displays.
The event, organized by Saudi Arabia’s General Culture Authority (GCA) in cooperation with the Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Foundation (MiSK) and Phillips, is being held under the the patronage of Minister of Culture and Information Awwad Al-Awwad, chairman of the board of directors of GCA and Ahmed Al-Maziad, CEO of the GCA.
“Saudi Arabia has been a melting pot and crossroads of civilizations for 9,000 years. Our goal in London is to showcase both our history and contemporary Saudi culture and we invite everyone in London to come and experience the past, present and future with us,” Al-Maziad said in a statement.
Some of the biggest names in contemporary Saudi art and film are represented through exhibitions spanning two floors, with screenings of the award-winning movie “The Bliss of Being No One” in addition to “A Colorful Life,” a documentary produced by the GCA exploring female empowerment, which will be shown on March 8 to coincide with International Women’s Day.
Other highlights include a photo exhibition chronicling a visit to Saudi Arabia in 1938 by Princess Alice, the youngest granddaughter of Queen Victoria and the first member of the British royal family to go to Saudi Arabia.
The event runs from March 7-9 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Phillips building in Berkeley Square, London.
http://www.arabnews.com/node/1261141/saudi-arabia#photo/2
Forget ‘stereotypes’ about Saudi Arabia, UK firms urged
REBECCA SPONG | Published — Wednesday 7 March 2018
— Afnan AlShuaiby Head of the Arab-BritishChamber of Commerce
LONDON: The visit to the UK by the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, this week will set the stage for a new trading relationship between the two countries, Dr. Afnan AlShuaiby, head of the Arab-British Chamber of Commerce, predicted.
Sitting in her Mayfair office, AlShuaiby told Arab News that with Brexit on the horizon and the Kingdom seeking to diversify its economy, “the sky is the limit” when it comes to business and trade partnerships.
The crown prince arrives in London on Wednesday and will hold talks with the British prime minister, Theresa May, as well as senior business and intelligence figures.
AlShuaiby said she is optimistic the visit will encourage more UK companies to invest in Saudi Arabia. Britain’s decision to leave the EU made it even more important for British companies to focus on improving trade relations with partners outside Europe, she said.
“I would like to see more British interest in Saudi Arabia and more companies investing in Saudi Arabia, whether they are small and medium companies or even the bigger companies that haven’t explored or been in Saudi Arabia,” she said.
“(The crown prince’s visit) is going to be a very good opportunity for the two sides to finalize agreements together and a way to move forward,” she said. “I would like to see solid agreements come out of it.”
AlShuaiby urged people to look beyond preconceived ideas about Saudi Arabia and consider the benefits the visit could have on UK business and trade.
“When a guest comes, they should be welcomed. That’s a courtesy for any place,” she said
“People don’t know what’s happening in Saudi Arabia, specifically in the past two years. There’s a lot of positivity on all levels and a lot of reforms. I haven’t seen that in the UK media — there is no interest,” she said.
Changes that have made headlines in the UK include the decision last year to allow women to drive, as well as the crown prince’s anti-corruption drive that resulted in hundreds of businessmen and ministers being detained in the luxury Ritz-Carlton hotel in Riyadh last November.
AlShuaiby has been at the forefront of efforts to strengthen business links between the UK and Saudi Arabia since she was appointed secretary general and chief executive of the chamber just over a decade ago. She is the first woman to be appointed to the role in the 40-year history of the organization, set up in the mid-1970s to encourage trade between the UK and other Arab League countries.
The Saudi national gained her first degree at the King Saud University in Riyadh, and went on to complete an MA in educational administration at the American University, followed by a Ph.D. in leadership administration at George Washington University, both in Washington.
In her role at the chamber, she has spearheaded conferences, research services, forums and other networking events to help make key introductions between UK companies and their Saudi Arabian and Arab League counterparts. “We are the matchmaker,” she said.
In 2016, UK exports to Saudi Arabia were worth $6.62 billion compared with $3 billion in 2006, according to World Bank data.
With Saudi Arabia pushing forward with plans to diversify the country’s economy and its reliance on oil, AlShuaiby said business opportunities for UK companies are only likely to grow. The Kingdom’s Vision 2030 strategy, launched in 2016, set out a timetable for economic diversification and social reform.
“The sky is the limit,” she said, noting health care, education, research and development, and cybersecurity as areas of mutual interest between the two countries. There is a “big move” toward renewables as well, she said.
The film and cinema industry is opening up to outside investment, following a decision in December to lift the 35-year ban on cinemas in the Kingdom. Last month, the UK-based cinema chain Vue International signed an agreement with a Saudi partner to open about 30 multiplexes in the Kingdom.
“I think the focus of the visit is going to be geared more toward business and Vision 2030. There is a tremendous move in Saudi Arabia, and things are moving very fast,” she said.
“It is very important that the UK embarks and becomes a strategic partner in this whole vision.
“I would like the government to encourage the private sector in the UK. People need to be reassured — and if the government reassures them, they are more comfortable and will have a better appetite for working with Saudi Arabia,” she said.
AlShuaiby explained that some UK businesses, particularly small-to-medium-sized firms, are reluctant to operate in the Kingdom due to “old stereotypes” about the country.
“British businesses are still a little bit cautious about doing business in Saudi Arabia,” she said, referring to concerns about the country’s business climate and the law surrounding commercial disputes. She insisted that “things have changed” with regard to the legal system.
“We need a different way of viewing things. Not the average stereotype of Saudi Arabia — the desert and camel. That is part of our history and our culture, and we are proud of it, but we have also built skyscrapers. It is a very modern country,” she said.
AlShuaiby called on larger UK firms already active in the Kingdom to “mentor” smaller companies.
AlShuaiby’s comments are backed up by a recent World Bank report, “Doing Business in 2018,” which found that the Kingdom had implemented six key reforms last year, the largest number in the Middle East and North Africa region.
The report, published in December, said it was now easier to start a business, register property, enforce contracts and trade across borders in the Kingdom. The bank’s country director for Saudi Arabia, Nadir Mohammed, said such efforts “send a strong signal to investors interested in investing in the Kingdom.”
Given these improvements, AlShuaiby warns that Saudi Arabia is no longer a place to fly in and out of to make a quick buck. Only “serious” UK investors are wanted, she said.
“This is the message I would like to send out — is we need a long-term sustainable partner. We want to be partners for a long time,” she said.
“We need a bigger British presence in Saudi Arabia. We want serious people who are willing to pay for their plane ticket and a couple of nights’ hotel (accommodation) and have organized meetings with an objective. That’s what we are looking for,” she said.
http://www.arabnews.com/node/1260811/saudi-arabia
BORIS JOHNSON | Published — Friday 2 March 2018
Future of Saudi Arabia, Muslim world depends on success of Crown Prince
It was 73 years ago — almost to the day — that Winston Churchill travelled to Fayoum Oasis in Egypt for a meeting with the king of Saudi Arabia.
“His own cup-bearer from Mecca offered me a glass of water from its sacred well, the most delicious that I had ever tasted,” wrote Churchill of this encounter with King Abdulaziz al Saud.
If that meeting in the desert was an early chapter in relations between Britain and Saudi Arabia, then we will turn a new page on March 7 when his grandson, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, visits London.
There will be those who would object to engaging with a kingdom that is a powerhouse of the Middle East and, incidentally, one of Britain’s oldest friends in the region.
If you have any sympathy with such views, then let me highlight a few salient facts.
In the eight months since Mohammed bin Salman became crown prince, Saudi Arabia has introduced exactly the kind of reforms that we have always advocated.
The ban on women driving has been overturned. Gender segregation has been relaxed. The kingdom has adopted an official target for women to account for 30 per cent of the workforce: in February women were allowed to register their own businesses. Women now attend sporting events and from next month cinemas will open their doors to everyone.
If you are inclined to dismiss these advances, then I will respectfully suggest that you are making a profound mistake. Change does not come easily in Saudi Arabia. In a matter of a few months, genuine reform has taken place after decades of stasis.
And that fact tells an important story. The crown prince and his father King Salman have together embarked on the social and economic renewal of Saudi Arabia, launching a national programme known as Vision 2030. In October the crown prince said that the overarching goal was to build a “country of moderate Islam that is open to all religions and to the world”. He also promised to “eradicate promoters of extremist thoughts”.
Tens of thousands of British jobs depend on our exports to Saudi Arabia
Boris Johnson
If you are tempted to brush off those phrases as platitudes aimed at outsiders, consider that the crown prince was speaking not in English in some western capital but in Arabic to an audience in Riyadh. His words have been given meaning by the establishment in his capital of a new centre to counter the financing of terrorism.
What conclusion should we draw? I believe that the crown prince, who is only 32, has demonstrated by word and deed that he aims to guide Saudi Arabia in a more open direction.
The worst response would be for Britain to criticise from the sidelines or shun the kingdom altogether; instead our role must be to encourage him along this path.
Be in no doubt: the future of Saudi Arabia — and indeed the region and the wider Muslim world — depends on his success.
Hence the importance of the crown prince’s visit to London. This will be a chance to strengthen our relationship with Saudi Arabia, both as an end in itself and as the best means of promoting reform.
I will not minimise Britain’s differences with the kingdom. I want Saudi Arabia to do more to protect human rights. But we cannot deliver these messages or resolve our disagreements unless we meet the kingdom’s leaders.
Nor can we uphold the British national interest. Remember that tens of thousands of British jobs depend on our exports to Saudi Arabia, which climbed to £6.2 billion in 2016, a 41 per cent rise since 2010. When it comes to keeping Britain safe, intelligence from Saudi Arabia has been crucial in the struggle against terrorism. The simple truth is that British lives have been saved and attacks prevented because of our security cooperation with Saudi Arabia.
This relationship has long been important for global security. Saudi Arabia was a firm ally during the Cold War and, amid all the turbulence of the Middle East, the kingdom has generally acted as a force for stability and moderation. It was the late King Abdullah who threw his diplomatic weight behind a two-state solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict by proposing the bold Arab Peace Initiative.
Today Britain and Saudi Arabia are working together to counter Iran’s disruptive behaviour in the Middle East and bring the war in Yemen to an end. Last year King Salman took the far-sighted decision to pursue a rapprochement with the Shia-led government in Iraq, something that will help to stabilise the country after the defeat of ISIS.
You might reply that far more needs to be done to reach a peaceful settlement in Yemen and ensure that aid gets through to everyone in need. I agree. That is exactly why we need to discuss these vital matters with the crown prince during his visit to the UK.
Our foreign policy is designed to promote the safety and prosperity of the British people while upholding our values as a force for good. We cannot achieve any of these goals unless we meet the leaders of Saudi Arabia on equal and friendly terms.
That was true when Churchill drank the spring water of Mecca with Ibn Saud in 1945, and it remains true today.
- Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of the United Kingdom
http://www.arabnews.com/node/1257801
SAUDI ARABIA
DEVELOPING
Saudi crown prince begins landmark UK visit
JONATHAN LESSWARE | Published — Wednesday 7 March 2018
LONDON: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman landed in the UK Tuesday on a landmark trip with a broad agenda spanning business, defense and political ties.
During the three-day visit, Crown Prince Mohammed is expected to meet Prime Minister Theresa May, the Queen (full gallery here) and other members of the British royal family.
His arrival in Britain has been highly anticipated, with extensive media coverage of relations between the two countries in the build-up.
Billboards highlighting the visit have been erected in parts of London and along major highways into the capital.
One shows the flags of the two countries with “United Kingdoms” written across the top. Another shows Crown Prince Mohammed with the slogan “He is bringing change to Saudi Arabia.”
Crown Prince Mohammed said the two countries enjoyed historic ties that dated back more than 100 years to the foundation of the Kingdom.
“We have a common interest that goes back to the earliest days of the relationship,” he said in an interview with The Daily Telegraph newspaper published yesterday. “Our relationship with Britain today is super,” he said.
Events scheduled for the visit include a forum on business partnerships between the two countries and a discussion meeting at Chatham House.
Business relations are expected to be a key feature of the visit.
Saudi Arabia is the UK’s largest trading partner in the Middle East with the flow of goods and services between the two countries in 2016 worth more than £8 billion, according to the Financial Times.
Britain could be a major beneficiary of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 economic plan to diversify the economy away from oil, Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir said.
“After Brexit, there will be huge opportunities for Britain as a result of Vision 2030,” he told the BBC.
The British prime minister has welcomed the visit as a chance to strengthen relations.
“The partnership between the UK and Saudi Arabia already helps make both our countries safer through intelligence-sharing which has saved British lives, and more prosperous, with thousands of jobs created in the UK and substantial opportunities for British companies in Saudi Arabia,” the PM’s office said.
http://www.arabnews.com/node/1260766/saudi-arabia
There would be no Kingdom if there was no WW1
