The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Iraq issued today the following joint statement: At the invitation of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Prime Minister of Republic of Iraq Haider Al-Abadi paid an official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Monday, 24 Ramadan 1438 AH corresponding to 19 June 2017 AD. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Prime Minister held a session of talks attended by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior, and a number of senior officials of the two countries, during which they exchanged views on the prospects and ways of developing bilateral relations and intensifying cooperation in all areas for the service of the two brotherly peoples and the common interests existing between the two countries, especially in political, security, economic, trade, investment and energy fields, and discussed regional and international issues of common concern. Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense also held a session of talks with Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi. During the two sessions, the two sides commended what is binding the two countries and their brotherly peoples of the ties of religion, brotherhood, neighborliness, bonds and common destiny, expressing their happiness over what has been recorded by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Iraq of a qualitative leap in relations between them, stressing the importance of the regular exchanges of visits between officials of the two countries as well as businessmen to explore opportunities to support economic and trade relations and develop them to prospects for the interest of the two countries. Within the framework of the constructive spirit prevailed in the talks between the two sides, they discussed current situations and political and security challenges facing Arab and Islamic nations, agreed to intensify the joint action to confront these challenges, particularly combating extremism and fighting terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and emphasized the importance of drying up the sources of terrorism and its financing and abiding by agreements and commitments that bind States in this regard. The two countries expressed their determination to continue their successful efforts to combat terrorist organizations, especially terrorist Daesh (ISIS) organization whose terrorist actions have reached secure people in the two countries. The two countries confirmed their condemnation of all actions affecting the security and stability of the two countries and the region, stressing the need for rejecting the spirit of hatred, violence, sectarian discrimination and fomenting of ideology, affirming their keenness to strengthen their brotherly relations to achieve their common interests and the interests of the two brotherly peoples, emphasizing the importance of enhancing peace and security in the region. Emanating from the keenness to strengthen their relations, the two countries agreed to establish a coordination council between them to upgrade relations to the desired strategic level and open new horizons of cooperation in various fields including political, security, economic, developmental, commercial, investment, tourism and cultural domains, activate the partnership between the private sector in the two countries, and follow up the implementation of what has been concluded of agreements and memorandums of understanding to achieve their common objectives. Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi expressed the Iraqi government's appreciation to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its support for the efforts being exerted in the reconstruction of Iraq. The Prime Minister commended the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for their care of the Two Holy Mosques and services to pilgrims, Umrah performers and visitors. He also expressed his thanks and appreciation for the warm reception and generous hospitality accorded to him and the accompanying delegation.
