Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia commit to strengthen cooperation in various domains

Addis Ababa, April 2, 2024 (FBC) – Ethiopia and Saudi Arabia have affirmed their commitment to further enhancing collaboration across diverse domains. A delegation from Ethiopia, led by Deputy Prime Minister Temesgen Tiruneh and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Taye Atske-Selassie, paid a working visit to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

During the visit, Deputy Prime Minister Temesgen Tiruneh conveyed a message from Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) to Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, addressing bilateral relations and strategies for enhancing cooperation. The message was received by Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah.

Deputy Prime Minister Temesgen engaged in a discussion with Prince Faisal Bin Farhan, to explore avenues for deepening the ties between the two nations.

During the discussion, Temesgen asserted Ethiopia’s ongoing efforts to enhance collaboration with Saudi Arabia in economic, security, and overseas employment domains.

He underscored the significance of convening a joint commission meeting in the future, formalizing the overseas employment agreement process, and bolstering cooperation in trade and investment.

Furthermore, the Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister emphasized the critical importance of Ethiopia’s legitimate pursuit of access to a seaport for regional economic integration.

Prince Faisal Bin Farhan commended the progress achieved by Ethiopia under the leadership of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

He highlighted Ethiopia’s pivotal role as a bridge and key player in Saudi-African relations, emphasizing the significance of collaborative efforts between the two nations across diverse sectors.

Discussions during the visit also delved into regional peace and security, emphasizing the shared commitment to cooperation in fostering peace and stability in the region.

The high-level Ethiopian delegation’s visit reportedly coincides with the country’s preparations to initiate the third phase of repatriation for more than 70,000 Ethiopian nationals facing challenging circumstances in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in early April.

Recall that Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ambassador Birtukan Ayano disclosed a fortnight ago that the repatriation process for Ethiopian nationals would commence as early as April 1st.