RIYADH — Saudi Arabia has been coordinating its efforts with its international partners in addressing the coronavirus pandemic as it realizes the importance of global cooperation in confronting challenges and difficulties jointly, said Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Khuraiji on Wednesday. He made the remarks at a high-level meeting on International Cooperation under the Belt & Road Initiative (BRI) in the Asia-Pacific Region, which was organized virtually by China. Speaking on behalf of Foreign Minister Prince Faisal Bin Farhan, Al-Khuraiji added that the Kingdom has always been at the forefront in supporting global efforts to achieve a better life for people across the world based on its commitment toward international partnership and in response to humanitarian calls. He highlighted Saudi Arabia's efforts in confronting the pandemic and protecting its people — citizens as well as residents — by taking the most precautionary and health measures in accordance with the highest international medical standards and in line with protocols approved by the World Health Organization. Al-Khuraiji also said that Saudi Arabia during its presidency of the G20 last year worked to amend the program for the summit to focus mainly on addressing the pandemic, and its health, economic and social consequences. Drawing the attention of the participants, the Saudi minister pointed out that the Kingdom's Vision 2030 set the environment and sustainable development as one of its main goals. Al-Khuraiji added that Saudi Arabia underlined the need to preserve the environment through its G20 presidency last year by placing the preservation of the planet at the forefront of its agenda based on its keenness to ensure sustainability and find feasible solutions to environmental, climate and energy issues around the world. He referred to the Kingdom's launch of the "Green Saudi Arabia" and "Green Middle East" initiatives, which aim to protect the earth and nature and confront environmental challenges.
