DAVOS — Saudi ambassador to the US Princess Reema Bint Bandar said that Saudi Arabia and the United States partnership creates a more stable world. Addressing the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos on Wednesday, she said we have stood by each other where it counts and where it matters. "We're strategic partners and friends for 80 years and we have stood by each other where it counts and where it matters and some of those moments were public and some were private." She added: "This relationship that's 80 years old will maintain another 80 years and 80 years after that because it's not just good for the US but also for Saudi Arabia." "Anybody thinks the world of terror has ended is greatly mistaken and the collaboration Saudi Arabia and the US have in countering terrorism is why you don't see headlines, it's why you see peace and prosperity," Princess Reema said. She pointed out "Yes there's a moment of conflict and disagreement between the two countries but that doesn't take away the fact that we're both strategic allies and friends and this relationship is critical for the world." "We talk about the WEF, one of the strongest economies in the world is the US and one of the strongest economies in the Middle East is Saudi Arabia, so it's for the global benefit that we maintain this relationship." On her mission as ambassador, Princess Reema said: "It might be tough sometimes to be the Saudi ambassador at Washington. It's a job that I carry with profound pride not just because I'm the first woman to do this job but the legacy of this relationship. "It's personal it's always has been. Our students come to the US for tens of years and the best of the best in today's Saudi government studied in the US." "You can't have a sustainable economy if 50 percent of your society isn't included," the Saudi ambassador said, outlining how Saudi Arabia is empowering women to participate in the Kingdom's evolving economy. She said Saudi Arabia addressed inequality from the start of the Vision 2030 — women weren't an afterthought in the design of what we're doing. "Saudi Arabia has already achieved the 2030 target set for female participation in the economy as it continues to enable more women to contribute to transformation."
