Iraqi ambassador says Abdul-Mahdi’s visit to Riyadh strengthens co-op
Iraqi Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Dr. Qahtan al-Janabi has said the visit of Iraq's Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi to Riyadh on Wednesday falls in line with the growing relations between the two countries.
In press remarks, the Ambassador said a large delegation is expected to accompany the Iraqi PM, who is visiting the Kingdom for the first time since he was tasked to form the government six months ago.
“Meetings held between the two sides were fruitful and vital and they produced positive results to strengthen cooperation,” al-Janabi said.
He explained that the Iraqi PM’s visit would have an immense impact on enhancing bilateral relations, and therefore, should boost commercial, investment and economic cooperation, and deepen collaboration in political, security and military matters.
The diplomat said the visit would also build bridges between the leaders of both states to engage in greater dialogue on regional and international issues.
“We look forward, in the near future, for enhancing development in our relations at all joint strategic levels,” al-Janabi said.
The Ambassador said a committee, which emerged from the Saudi-Iraqi Joint Coordination Council (SICC), will hold a meeting under the chairmanship of the two countries’ Foreign Ministers, in the presence of political, military and security officials representing both sides.
The diplomat said the meetings should witness the signing of a series of memorandums of cooperation in commerce, industry, energy, agriculture, education and transportation, in addition to discussions and coordination at the political, security and military levels.
On April 2, Mahdi said that he "will make an official visit to Saudi Arabia to discuss issues of trade exchange, customs tariff and the development of relations between the two countries".
The relations between Iraq and Saudi Arabia have improved since Saudi Arabia reopened its embassy in Baghdad in 2016 after 25 years of closure.