Jubeir, Saudi ambassador to the US, met Monday with a delegation of Shoura Council members led by Osama Al-Kurdi, Chairman of the Shoura's Parliamentary Saudi-American Friendship Committee, who are currently visiting the United States. The visit, which began last Friday, seeks to boost Saudi-US relations, notably between the Saudi Shoura Council and the American Congress. Ambassador Al-Jubeir spoke to the Shoura members on Saudi-US relations and the “deep strategic ties” between the two countries that “go back more than 70 years”. “Those relations exist at all political and economic levels,” he said. “The American government is fully aware of the Kingdom's importance and status in the regional and international arenas, particularly in the Middle East where it has helped produce solidity in relations in the service of both countries and achieve peace, security and stability.” He said that those relations were built on “organizations that work with transparency and clarity and mutual respect”. “The level of cooperation between the two countries has risen to unprecedented levels in politics, the economy and trade, as well as education and culture,” he said. “The US welcomes Saudi students whose numbers in the past were no more than 3,000 but have now reached over 30,000, all studying in different American universities and cities and states.” He added that trade exchange between the two countries had also increased to the benefit of “both countries and peoples”. Saudi Gazette reported Al-Kurdi as saying ahead of the visit that the occasion would help to “further strengthen relations and offer a unique opportunity for Shoura Council members to meet with members of Congress and civil society institutions”“The visit will benefit the Kingdom, GCC Countries, Islamic and Arab countries, and in particular the Palestinians,” Al
