THE SAUDI U.S. JOINT COMMITTEE FOR STRATEGIC DIALOGUE HOLDS ITS SECOND MEETING ON MAY 18, 2006 IN WASHINGTON, UNDER THE CO-CHAIRMANSHIP OF PRINCE SUAD AL-FAISAL, FOREIGN MINISTER OF THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA, AND DR. CONDOLEEZZA RICE, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE. THE COMMITTE WAS FORMED DURING CRAWFORD SUMMIT BETWEEN THE CUSTODIAN OF THE TWO HOLY MOSQUES KING ABDULLAH BIN ABDULAZIZ AND U.S. PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH ON 25 APRIL 2005. IT HELD ITS FIRST MEETING IN JEDDAH ON 13 NOVEMBER 2005. IN A STATEMENT TO SAUDI PRESS AGENCY, PRINCE TURKI AL-FAISAL, THE SAUDI AMBASSADOR TO WASHINGTON SAID THE MEETING WILL DISCUSS A WIDE-RANGE OF ISSUES AMING AT CONTINUING AND ENHANCING BILATERAL COOPERATION BETWEEN THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN A NUMBER OF FIELDS, INCLUDING COMBATING OF TERRORISM, ENHANCING MILITARY, SECURITY, AND ECONOMIC COOPERATION, SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL EXCHANGES AND COOPERATION IN THE FIELD OF ENERGY IN ADDITION TO INTERNATIONAL ISSUES OF MUTUAL CONCERN. WAYS OF IMPOROVING CONSULATE PERFORMANCE AND SERVICES, PARTICULARLY ISSUANCE OF VISAS FOR SAUDI STUDENTS, BUSINESSMEN AND VISITORS BY THE U.S. EMBASSY IN RIYADH WILL ALSO BE DISCUSSED, THE AMBASSADOR SAID. --MORE
