A joint statement was issued today at the conclusion of the visit of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Deputy Prime Minister to the Republic of Greece as follows: In the context of the distinguished relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Greece, and upon an invitation of the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Deputy Prime Minister, paid an official visit to the Republic of Greece on July 26-27, 2022. The Prime Minister of the Republic of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis received His Royal Highness Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Deputy Prime Minister, and they held a session of official talks, during which they reviewed the friendly relations between the two countries and ways to develop them in all fields. They also exchanged views on the overall current regional and international situation. They praised the strong partnership that binds the two countries and its development over the past years, and affirmed their determination to work to consolidate it for the benefit of the two countries' peoples. The two sides also affirmed the distinguished and strong relations between the two countries and their common desire to raise them to a strategic level. HRH Crown Prince valued the support of the government of the Republic of Greece for the city of Riyadh's bid to host Expo 2030. Upon the two sides' agreement, during the successful visit of Greek Prime Minister to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in October, 2021, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the two foreign ministers of the Kingdom and Greece, in the presence of the HRH Crown Prince and Greek Prime Minister regarding the establishment of the Saudi-Greek Strategic Partnership Council. The council will be chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister from the Saudi side, and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis from the Greek side. In the economic, commercial and investment affairs, the two sides stressed the importance of enhancing economic cooperation between the two countries by aligning the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 and the Greek National Recovery and Resilience Plan (Greece 2.0). They also affirmed their keenness to support investment integration opportunities between the two countries in a number of sectors of common interest. The two sides praised the signing of the agreement to encourage and protect mutual investment, in their belief in the important role of the private sector in achieving the ambitious investment programs being witnessed by the two countries. The two sides renewed their determination to encourage investment partnerships between the private sectors in the two countries, enhance joint work and coordination by providing facilities, and finding solutions to any challenges that the private sector may face in a way that enhances investment and trade exchange between the two countries. They also stressed the importance of cooperation in the field of tourism, the development of the tourism movement in the two countries, and the promotion of joint action with regard to sustainable tourism, which benefits and develop the tourism sector. The two sides highlighted the fruitful results of the holding of the 5th session of the Saudi-Greek Joint Committee in Athens in May 2022, the holding of the Saudi-Greek Business Council, and the results of the Saudi-Greek Investment Forum in May 2022 in Athens, in the presence of many leaders of Saudi-Greek companies. They praised the holding of the round table meeting between the Saudi and Greek companies during the visit, and the two sides welcomed the signing of a number of agreements and MoUs between the private sectors, amounting to about SAR 14 billion in the fields of energy, renewable energy, infrastructure, tourism, maritime transport and logistics, communications and information technology, health care, and food. The two sides welcomed the signing of a data cable project agreement aimed at strengthening the infrastructure for data transmission between Asia and Europe. In addition, the two sides commended the signing of the agreement between Saudi MENA Hub, Cyprus Telecommunications Authority (CyTA Ltd), and TTSA S.A., and Public Power Corporation from Greece to establish the East-Med Corridor project with the aim of enhancing cooperation in the field of data transmission. The two sides stressed the importance of strategic cooperation between them in a number of issues of common interest in the field of energy, including the generation of electricity by using renewable energy, the establishment of the electrical interconnection line, and the export of electricity produced by renewable energy to Greece and to Europe, through Greece, in addition to cooperation between the two countries in the field of clean hydrogen, including low-carbon hydrogen, green hydrogen, and its transfer to Europe, highlighting in this context the importance of the MoU signed between the two countries in the field of energy, and the formation of a joint technical team in the field of electrical interconnection and exporting electricity to Greece, and exporting electricity and hydrogen to Europe, through Greece, in order to make the necessary studies and start implementation according to what the studies conclude as soon as possible. The two sides agreed to enhance cooperation between them in applying the circular carbon economy approach and its technologies; such as carbon capture, reuse, transfer and storage, and carbon direct air capture, to reduce the effects of climate change. They also agreed on cooperation in the field of energy efficiency, in addition to the transfer of knowledge, experiences and best practices in the field of innovation and emerging technologies such as applications of artificial intelligence in the energy sector, and the development of clean technologies to use hydrocarbon resources in various applications in the industrial and construction fields. They also agreed to develop projects related to these fields, to contribute to the sustainability of the demand for energy supplies globally, and to develop local content through joint work to identify priority products and services for the two countries within the components of the energy sectors, and work to localize them, to raise GDP, in addition to the development of human capital. With regard to climate change issues, the two sides stressed the importance of adhering to the principles of the Framework Convention on Climate Change and Paris Agreement, and the necessity to develop and implement climate agreements by focusing on emissions without sources. Greece also welcomed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's launch of the Saudi Green Initiative and Middle East Green Initiative, expressing its support for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's efforts in the climate change field and reduce emissions. In return, the Kingdom welcomed Greece's ambitious green agenda, especially the islands' green economy initiative. The two countries also agreed to enhance the existing cooperation between them regarding the trade exchange of crude oil, petroleum products and petrochemicals. In the field of health cooperation, the two sides expressed their aspiration to strengthen and continue the existing cooperation between them in the fields of health, and to encourage exploring new opportunities in various health fields. The two sides also stressed the importance of raising the pace of joint cooperation between the two countries in the fields of culture, tourism, education, sports and youth, in order to achieve the common goals of the two countries. The Saudi side affirmed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's support for Greece's candidacy for non-permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council for 2025-2026. The two sides also stressed the importance of multilateral action in enhancing international peace and security, and expressed their readiness to continue supporting each other's candidacy in international forums. The two sides agreed to enhance multi-dimensional cooperation in the defense and security field, based on the results achieved within the framework of the bilateral comprehensive military cooperation agreement that was signed during this visit, and which provides a comprehensive framework for establishing more cooperation in the defense field, with the aim of enhancing security and stability in both countries and the entire region. They also stressed the importance of the political means and dialogue, based on the basic principles of the United Nations Charter, to achieve sustainable solutions to all conflicts and disputes, and stressed the importance of the peaceful resolution of disputes among countries through dialogue and diplomacy. They also noted that maintaining stability and prosperity is a priority for regional peace and security. The two sides condemned all forms of terrorism and incitement to acts of violence. They also called on the international community to work together to combat terrorism and extremism. With regard to the Yemeni crisis, the two sides stressed the importance of full support for the international and regional efforts to reach a comprehensive political solution to the Yemeni crisis based on the GCC initiative and its executive mechanisms, the outcomes of the Yemen's National Dialogue, and UN Security Council Resolution No. 2216 (2015). The Greek side praised the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's efforts and numerous initiatives aimed at encouraging dialogue and reconciliation among the Yemeni parties, and its role in providing and facilitating humanitarian access to all regions of Yemen. The two sides also affirmed their full support for the Presidential Leadership Council of the Republic of Yemen. They valued the UN efforts to enhance commitment to the current truce, and stressed the importance of the Houthis' commitment to this truce, not being intransigent in implementing their provisions and stopping their violations, cooperating with the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, and dealing seriously with peace initiatives and efforts. After the expanded meeting of the two delegations, a number of agreements, memoranda of understanding and technical programs were signed in the fields of energy, defense, crime control, science, technology, investment, sports, culture, health, standard specifications, and archives and records management. They also expressed their common desire to hold regular meetings in the two countries on the sidelines of the global meetings to ensure following up the initiatives and strengthening the relations of the mutual benefit. At the conclusion of the visit, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Deputy Prime Minister, expressed his thanks and appreciation to Prime Minister of the Republic of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis for the warm reception and hospitality accorded to him and his accompanying delegation. The Prime Minister of the Republic of Greece also expressed his best wishes of health and happiness to HRH Crown Prince, and for further progress and prosperity to the friendly people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
