Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH – Mohammed Al-Tuwaijri, minister of economy and planning, thanked Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, for the remarkable achievements made by the Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates toward enhancing cooperation and integration with the creation of the Saudi-Emirati Coordination Council (SECC).

The first meeting of the council, held in Jeddah on Wednesday, adopted a joint strategy and work mechanism for the next five years and this strategy focuses on three main axis in the economic; human and knowledge; and security and military realms.

Al-Tuwaijri said in a statement that the Council would be instrumental in further deepening bilateral cooperation in vital areas of economy, human development, and political, security and military integration so as to elevate the two countries’ global stature in all major spheres of life as well as in strengthening their security and consolidating the stability of the region.

“The Council will provide the best model for bilateral cooperation between the two countries as a natural extension of the deep-rooted historic bilateral ties and a new phase of effective and unlimited cooperation which will be reflected with a positive and sustainable impact on the two countries, as well as on the region and the world as a whole,” he said.

Al-Tuwaijri noted that the council is chaired on the Saudi side by Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman and that its Saudi members include ministers of interior, culture, foreign, finance, education, commerce and investment, and energy, industry and mineral resources.

The Council has an Executive Committee to ensure the effective implementation of its strategies and avenues for cooperation and partnership between the two countries, as well as to establish a clear performance measurement mechanism to ensure the sustainability and success of the initiatives and to intensify bilateral cooperation in the priority areas.

The committee is co-chaired by Al-Tuwaijri and Mohammed Al-Gergawi, minister of Cabinet affairs of UAE. Al-Tuwaijri said the committee and its sub committees would have their members and technical teams from both sides in its next phase.