Nigeria and Saudi Arabia have initiated measures aim at uplifting and further strengthening all aspects of the long-standingbilateral co-operation between them.
The Nigeria-Saudi Joint Commission which the first session held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in March, 2013 came into being following the signing of a General Agreement for Cooperation between the countries on twentieth October, 2003 aimed at promoting mutually beneficial co-operation.
Addressing the assemblage, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mr Zubairu Dada, maintained that there are far reaching socio-economic transformation currently taking place in the country under Vision 2030, as Nigeria is similarly pursuing a number of reforms aimed at liberalizing and digitizing the economy as well as creating more opportunities for women and youths for more sustainable future.
He affirmed that Nigeria attaches great importance to her relations with Saudi Arabia and is demonstrating her strong and unwavering commitment to further boosting and elevating the existing historical ties.
According to him, a number of Memoranda of Understanding and Agreements covering various aspects of bilateral c-ooperation were signed by both countries during the first session and by hosting the second Session of the Joint Commission, Nigeria is affirming its determination to ensure that the relations are transformed into purposeful partnership.
He expressed the hope that the session will produce the desired positive outcome which will bring a new era in Nigeria-Saudi Co-operation and also create the necessary mechanism for the implementation of agreed frameworks with minimum delay.
For the Saudi Arabian Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture for Fisheries, Mr Ahmed Elkhemshi, the second session is an extension of what was agreed in the first session and represents a practical approach in the path set for enhancing cooperation between the two countries.
According to him, the Nigeria-Saudi Joint Commission constitutes the effective tool for implementing the agreement and laying the specific foundation for enhancing economic, commercial, investment, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two countries.
He noted that emphasis must be given to activate the work of both the agreement and the joint commission through the development of effective mechanism and programmes to implement what emanates from the meetings of the Commission.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Gabriel Aduda, while declaring open the two-day meeting, charged delegates to work towards coming up with agreements that will further strengthen the relationship between the two countries.
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