The foreign ministers of Iran and Saudi Arabia met in Beijing yesterday for the first formal gathering of their top diplomats in more than seven years, after China brokered a deal to restore relations between the top regional powers.
In brief footage broadcast on Iranian state TV, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amirabdollahian greeted each other before sitting down side by side.
In a joint statement issued after the meeting, the foreign ministers “emphasised the importance of following up on the implementation of the Beijing Agreement and its activation in a way that enhances mutual trust, expands the fields of co-operation and helps create security, stability and prosperity in the region,” the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
The kingdom and Iran have also agreed to reopen their diplomatic missions within 60 days of resuming ties, and will proceed with the necessary measures to ensure that happens in Riyadh and Tehran, as well as in Jeddah and Mashaad, where their general consulates were previously stationed, according to SPA.
The ministers also affirmed that the technical teams on both sides will discuss ways to enhance co-operation between the two countries, including the resumption of flights and mutual visits by official delegations and private sector members.
They will also work on facilitating visas to the citizens of both countries, including for Umrah.
“The two sides expressed their aspiration to intensify consultative meetings and discuss ways of co-operation to achieve more positive prospects for relations, given the natural resources and economic potential that the two countries possess, and great opportunities to achieve mutual benefits,” the joint statement added.
“The two sides also agreed to enhance their co-operation in every field that would help achieve security and stability in the region and serve the interests of its countries and people.”
The ministers also “expressed their thanks and appreciation to the Chinese side for hosting this meeting.”
The meeting marked the first formal contact between Saudi Arabia and Iran’s top envoys since 2016.
The talks came after three separate phone calls between the two foreign ministers, in which they discussed the subsequent steps needed to resume their diplomatic missions and reactivate previous agreements, according to sources.
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