LONDON — British Minister for Middle East and North Africa James Cleverly thanked the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its generous contribution to help develop a vaccine against COVID-19.

Cleverly said in a statement Thursday evening that he spoke with the Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Al-Jubeir to renew the importance of regional stability and international cooperation to face international challenges.

"I reiterate our thanks to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the generous contribution of $500 million to help develop a vaccine to treat COVID-19," Cleverley added.

Saudi Arabia participated in leading the conference of the global pledge to respond to the corona pandemic with the participation of the European Union, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and Norway.

The conference succeeded in raising donations amounting to 7.4 billion euros to meet the urgent need to face COVID-19. — SPA