Shahbaz Sharif, Saudi Crown Prince vow to deepen ties, discuss Palestine crisis
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif met Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman at Yamama Palace in Riyadh on Wednesday, where the two leaders held extensive discussions on bilateral relations, economic cooperation, investment opportunities, energy projects, and regional stability.
The talks also focused heavily on the Middle East situation, particularly the Palestinian issue. Both leaders strongly condemned the latest Israeli aggression against Qatar and called on the international community to take urgent steps to resolve the Palestine crisis, end Israeli crimes, and ease the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman emphasised that resolving the Palestine issue is “inevitable for peace and prosperity in the Middle East.”
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s consistent and firm stance in support of Palestine and reiterated Pakistan’s solidarity with Saudi Arabia on regional matters.
During the meeting, both sides agreed to further promote Pak-Saudi relations and expand cooperation in multiple sectors, particularly trade, investment, and energy. Detailed discussions were held on advancing existing projects and exploring new avenues of collaboration.
The meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal General Asim Munir, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Minister for Climate Change Dr. Musaddiq Malik, and Special Assistant Syed Tariq Fatemi.
Royal Reception
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif was accorded a warm welcome upon arrival in Saudi Arabia. At the airport, he was received by Deputy Governor Prince Muhammad bin Abdul Rahman, while Saudi Royal Air Force planes performed an aerial salute.
At Yamama Palace, the Prime Minister was received by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman with full Saudi royal protocol. The Saudi Royal Guard presented him with a ceremonial guard of honor before the bilateral talks began.