RIYADH — Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman and Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi reiterated their determination to strengthen bilateral relations in all fields. In a virtual meeting that took place following the 4th session of the Saudi-Iraqi Coordination Council, the leaders underlined the need for relations to move forward, matching aspirations and visions of the leadership of the two countries in order to achieve common interests, enhance the security and stability of the region, and push the wheel of development for the benefit and well-being of the people of the two countries. The Crown Prince and Al-Kadhimi reviewed the activities of the council and the agreements and memoranda of understanding that resulted from the previous three sessions in cementing relations between the two countries. Addressing the session, Foreign Minister Prince Faisal Bin Farhan underscored the historic relations between the two countries. "Iraq's security is essential to the security of the Arab region and that the trade horizon is very broad between Iraq and Saudi Arabia," he pointed out. For his part, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said Iraq wants to benefit from the Saudi experience in combating terrorism. "Saudi Arabia has a successful experience in fighting terrorism and extremism," he noted. In a joint statement, the two countries announced the finalization of an agreement to open the Jadeeda Arar border crossing. Under the deal, the border point will be inaugurated and operational after seven days. The Saudi commercial attaché will also open in Baghdad soon. The Iraqi side thanked Saudi Arabia for King Salman's gift of a sports stadium to the Iraqi people. The foundation stone will be laid for the stadium in the near future. The joint statement stressed the importance of cooperation in the fields of energy, exchange of experiences and coordination of positions in the oil field within the scope of OPEC + work, and full commitment to all decisions that have been agreed upon, in a way that guarantees to reach fair and appropriate oil prices for exporters and consumers alike in the global oil market. Iraq renewed its call for Saudi companies to invest and make the most of promising opportunities in various fields in the country. The two sides agreed to continue joint cooperation in countering the threat of extremism and terrorism. The two countries stressed the importance of cooperation in ensuring sustainable security, especially border security as well as to keep the region away from tensions.
