In Riyadh, the chief of Polish diplomacy met with Minister of Foreign Affairs Ibrahim bin Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Assaf and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir.

The Polish-Saudi talks focused on strengthening bilateral relations, as well as boosting economic, military, assistance, cultural, scientific and academic cooperation. The top diplomats also discussed expanding legal and treaty base.

The meeting with Minister Al-Assaf mainly explored forging closer economic cooperation between the two countries. The chief of the Saudi MFA expressed his satisfaction with growing Polish-Saudi trade.

The ministers also talked about the prospects for furthering defense cooperation. Saudi Arabia is Poland’s strategic partner in the Persian Gulf and the Middle East regions. Poland aims to expand cooperation in this area by launching trade in Polish military equipment. The discussions also concerned energy security.

Minister Jacek Czaputowicz recalled the significant potential for Polish-Saudi cooperation in the sector of new and green technologies as well as IT. He also noted Polish infrastructural investments and growing start-ups.

Furthermore, the Polish and Saudi top diplomats touched on European issues, including Brexit. Minister Jacek Czaputowicz presented Poland’s assessment of the situation in Ukraine and in Central and Eastern Europe.

In addition, the foreign ministers talked about forging closer cultural cooperation, in particular in the context of the upcoming 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

During his meeting with Minister of State Al-Jubeir, the chief of the Polish MFA discussed the situation in the Middle East region – Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Sudan and Libya. The ministers noted that Poland and Saudi Arabia agree on many issues concerning security and the terrorist threat in the region.

Minister Jacek Czaputowicz briefed the Saudi side on the progress made in the implementation of arrangements of the so-called Warsaw Process launched at the Ministerial to Promote a Future of Peace and Security in the Middle East, which was held in Warsaw in February this year. The Polish foreign minister presented in particular the planned working groups. “Saudi Arabia is one of the most important countries in the region, and has extensive experience in dealing with numerous security challenges, Therefore, it is an important partner for Poland and the United States under the Warsaw Process,” noted Minister Czaputowicz.

During the consultations, the ministers referred to the possibilities of cooperation in the area of humanitarian aid and development assistance. One of the visit’s objectives was to initiate Polish-Saudi cooperation on assistance projects in third countries. The officials also discussed the exchange of supports, including the promotion of Poland’s candidature for the Human Rights Council for the 2020-2022 term.

 

MFA Press Office

 

Photo Gabriel Piętka / MFA