Doha, October 4, 2024—On behalf of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah represented the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at the Third Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Summit, held in Doha, Qatar. During the summit, Prince Faisal delivered a keynote address, conveying the greetings and best wishes of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and HRH Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman to the summit attendees. He expressed his deep gratitude to the State of Qatar for its warm hospitality and for hosting this significant international event.
In his speech, Prince Faisal highlighted the critical role the ACD plays in fostering dialogue and cooperation across Asia, touching on the broad areas of collaboration that the platform promotes, including economic, political, and cultural exchanges. He reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s commitment to enhancing partnerships within the ACD framework, recognizing its value in addressing common challenges and advancing shared goals among member states.
Addressing the pressing challenges facing the region, Prince Faisal drew attention to the intersection of development and security, emphasizing that the economic aspirations of Asian countries cannot be realized without addressing ongoing political tensions. He pointed to the escalating situations in Palestine and Lebanon, noting how such conflicts represent substantial barriers to economic development and international trade. The minister underscored the importance of a peaceful resolution to these conflicts, stressing that continued aggression and violations not only heighten political tensions but also threaten the flow of investments and economic cooperation across the region and beyond.
Prince Faisal also reiterated Saudi Arabia’s strong support for the two-state solution as the path to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, expressing gratitude for the support shown by ACD countries for this solution. He urged the international community to unite in backing this initiative, underscoring Saudi Arabia’s active role in contributing to the formation of an international coalition aimed at implementing the two-state solution.
In addition to addressing geopolitical issues, Prince Faisal touched upon the growing importance of sports diplomacy in the modern world. He highlighted the Kingdom’s belief in the power of sports as a vehicle for fostering constructive dialogue and supporting peace and stability. Saudi Arabia’s commitment to this vision is reflected in its hosting of major international sporting events, which Prince Faisal noted as part of the country’s broader efforts to enhance diplomatic relations through sports.
Accompanying Prince Faisal at the summit were Saudi Ambassador to Qatar, Prince Mansour bin Khalid bin Farhan, Director General of the Office of the Foreign Minister, Abdulrahman Aldawood, and Director of the Department of Federations, Groups and Specialized Organizations, Fares Al-Otaibi.