ST PETERSBURG – Deputy Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, second deputy premier and minister of defense, held wide-ranging talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin here on Thursday.
Their talks figured mainly on further bolstering bilateral relations, and strengthening cooperation, particularly in the field of peaceful use of nuclear energy, military and technical cooperation, housing, oil and gas sector and investment opportunities.
Landmark agreements for cooperation in the fields of military, space, oil and housing were also signed on the sidelines of their meeting.
Putin and Prince Muhammad Bin Salman discussed the latest developments in the region and reviewed the efforts being exerted to resolve major crises affecting the region, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Welcoming the deputy crown prince, Putin underscored the significance of bilateral relations between the two countries. He also recalled his invitation extended earlier to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman to visit Russia and then renewed the invitation. On his part, Prince Muhammad conveyed the greetings of King Salman to Putin. He also handed the King's invitation for Putin to visit the Kingdom.
The reception was also attended by Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Ali Al-Naimi, Acting Minister of Housing Essam Bin Saad, Minister of State and Member of the Cabinet Khaled Al-Eisa and President of the General Intelligence Khaled Al-Humaidan. The Russian side was represented by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu, and other senior officials.
Russia and Saudi Arabia signed a historic agreement for cooperation in the field of peaceful use of nuclear energy. The agreement was inked by Hashim Yemani, president of King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy (K.A CARE), and Sergei Kiriyenko, president of the Russian state nuclear energy agency, signed the agreement, which aims at developing and strengthening relations that will benefit both parties in the economic and technical fields. According to sources, Russia will assist the Kingdom with technology and expertise in building nuclear reactors. The Kingdom has an ambitious plan to build around 16 nuclear reactors for peaceful purposes and generation of electricity.
Since several months, the Russian nuclear experts were working along with K.A CARE officials to finalize the agreement.
Gen. Abdurahman Al-Binayan, chief of the Saudi General Staff, and Alexander Fomin, director of the Russian Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, signed the agreement for cooperation in various military fields.
Prince Turki Bin Saud, president of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), and Igor Komarov, general director of the Russian Aviation and Space Agency, signed a joint memorandum of intent for cooperation in the field of space.
Prince Turki said that under the deal the two sides will cooperate in the field of space exploration and using it for peaceful purposes.
“This will be through a joint working team that will identify the common topics for cooperation, and this will include the Kingdom's participation in the Russian space projects and manned and unmanned space missions. There will be enhanced cooperation in the commercial and research space projects as well as in the production and manufacturing in this sector.”
Meanwhile, Ali Al-Naimi signed with the Russian Minister of Energy Alexander Novak an executive program to implement an agreement for cooperation in the field of oil between the two countries.
Al-Naimi described the agreement as a new phase for cooperation and coordination between the two countries so as to have an alliance in the petroleum sector and that will eventually help further strengthening the stability of the global oil market.
On his part, Acting Minister of Housing Essam Bin Saad and Andrey Chibis, Russia's deputy minister of construction, housing and utilities, signed a memorandum of understanding to boost cooperation in the housing sector. The deal aims at exchange of expertise, developing cooperation in the construction and housing sector and building joint housing projects, designing buildings by using highly advanced technologies and many other purposes.
Deputy Crown Prince Muhammad arrived here on Wednesday on a high-profile visit to discuss key issues with Russian leaders. Saudi Ambassador to Russia Abdulrahman Al-Rassi said that there has been an agreement between the Kingdom and Russia on restoring the legitimacy of the government in Yemen. The two sides have agreed on maintaining the unity and stability of the country.
The historic relations between the two countries go back to 1926 when the then Soviet Union became the first nation to recognize King Abdulaziz as the Sultan of Najd and Hijaz, and later as the King of Saudi Arabia, and henceforth the relations witnessed remarkable growth.
