The 2nd Annual Saudi-American Summit of Chief Executive Officers (CEO) organized by US Chamber of Commerce and the Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce was held in the US capital of Washington on Wednesday. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson delivered a speech at the opening of the summit, describing relations between the two countries as strong and solid. "We have had a long relationship with the Kingdom for more than 80 years, and our support for a strong and steady partner in economic cooperation remains constant," he said. US Secretary of State also referred to the visit of Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Second, Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense to the United States of America, describing it as successful. He added that the Deputy Crown Prince held several important meetings as well as his meeting with President Donald Trump which resulted that the US-Saudi partnership should be taken to new horizons, and those meetings and other meetings show how the firmness of relations between the two countries is renewed and deepened. Secretary Tillerson said that his meetings with Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir on several occasions underscored the strength of relations between the two countries which are working to find solutions to the challenges facing security and stability in the Middle East, pointing out that this strength in the relationship between the two countries always encourages his country to find in the Kingdom as a strong and firm partner in these issues and also push for economic cooperation. " He explained that his country supports the Kingdom's Vision 2030 which seeks to diversify sources of income and develop the Saudi economy. For his part, Saudi Minister of Commerce and Investment, Dr. Majed Al-Qasabi, said that the United States of America was one of the first countries to establish full diplomatic relations with the Kingdom in 1933. He added, "The United States of America was more than any other country at the heart of the development process in the Kingdom," pointing out that the beginnings of oil industries in the Kingdom were through explorers and American oil companies, the projects from both parties had won, and we are now looking to American companies to gain lucrative opportunities to both parties, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is currently implementing a new approach to economic and social growth and development, an approach which in some respects is innovative, dynamic and similar to what exists in developed countries. " Dr. Al-Qasabi also said, "The Kingdom's Vision 2030 contains programs focusing on the development of strategic sectors including mining, minerals, petrochemicals, manufacturing of industrial components, electrical and mechanical equipment, energy and renewable energy generators, tourism, finance, healthcare and medicines". On his part, Prince Abdullah bin Faisal bin Turki, Saudi Ambassador to the United States of America stressed that the market environment in the Kingdom has changed a lot, noting that there are many opportunities for investors and the need to encourage business in both countries to move forward in the investment of these opportunities, emphasizing the readiness of the Kingdom's embassy in providing the required assistance to the American business sector to invest in the Kingdom.
