Tunisian and Saudi Foreign Ministers Reaffirm Strong Ties and Cooperation
The Tunisian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mohamed Ali Nafti, and his Saudi counterpart, Prince Fayçal ben Farhane ben Abdallah Al Saoud, reaffirmed on Tuesday in Tunis, during their joint presidency of the 4th session of the Tunisian-Saudi Political Follow-up and Consultation Committee, the solidity of the fraternal and cooperative ties between the two countries, as well as the need to consolidate the tradition of consultation and coordination at all levels.
Opening Remarks
In his opening speech, the Tunisian Foreign Minister welcomed the deep and historical relations between Tunisia and the Kingdom, describing them as a model to be followed between Arab and Islamic countries. He recalled with his Saudi counterpart the main stages of bilateral cooperation and partnership between the two peoples and states, spanning over seven decades. Nafti added that the visit of his Saudi counterpart to Tunis marks a new stage in building a strong cooperation, based on the political will of the leaders of the two countries, from the founder of the Kingdom, the late King Abdelaziz Al Saoud, and President Habib Bourguiba, to the current Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and his Crown Prince.
Importance of Coordination and Consultation
The Minister emphasized the importance of anchoring the traditions of political coordination and consultation for future diplomatic generations, in order to continue building and serving the common interests of the two countries. He indicated that the committee's work focuses on a rich program, based on mutual trust and the shared desire to further elevate the level of economic, technical, and investment cooperation, thanks to the complementarity of Tunisian and Saudi expertise in promising development projects.
Tunisia's Engagement and Cooperation
He recalled that Tunisia has been engaged for several years in a new phase of construction, relying first on its own resources and then on close cooperation with brotherly and friendly countries, including Saudi Arabia. "Tunisia welcomes its Saudi brothers with open arms to develop cooperation and investment programs," he stated. The Minister also welcomed the willingness of the two leaders to continue bilateral coordination, contributing to the strengthening of security and stability in the Arab, Islamic, and global world, and illustrating their common commitment to peace and well-being in the region and worldwide.
Saudi Minister's Remarks
For his part, the Saudi Foreign Minister praised the solidity of the historical relations between the two countries in various fields, emphasizing his country's desire to strengthen them further and support any initiative that promotes the security and prosperity of Tunisia. He explained that this session aims to deepen consultation and harmonize the positions of the two countries on major regional and international issues. He thanked Tunisia for its constant support to Saudi Arabia in UN organizations and international forums, and welcomed the level of bilateral visits and agreements signed, testifying to the quality of relations between the two states.
Cooperation and Support
The Saudi Foreign Minister reaffirmed his country's support for efforts to strengthen joint Arab action based on shared interests and development goals, as well as all regional and international initiatives to combat terrorism in all its forms. He highlighted the convergence of views between Riyadh and Tunis on the need to prioritize clear policies in favor of peaceful solutions, thus consolidating regional and global security and stability. The Minister also presented data on bilateral cooperation, including the fact that approximately 27,000 Tunisians currently reside in Saudi Arabia, and the volume of trade exchanges reached $417 million in 2024, with $328 million in Saudi exports to Tunisia and around $88 million in Tunisian imports to the Kingdom.
Memorandum of Understanding
At the end of the meeting, a memorandum of understanding was signed on cooperation in diplomatic training between the International Diplomatic Academy of Tunis and the Prince Saoud Al-Fayçal Institute of Diplomatic Studies, affiliated with the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
