Saudi Crown Prince start tour of Persian Gulf region
Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will visit Persian Gulf Arab states on a tour that starts with Oman on Monday, Saudi-owned Al Arabiya television said.
The tour comes ahead of the annual summit of Persian Gulf Arab leaders to be held in the Saudi capital Riyadh in mid-December, Al Arabiya said on its website and Twitter account.
State media reported that Prince Mohammed will focus his tour on ways to enhance coordination between Persian Gulf Co-operation Council member states and look at ways to strengthen the work of the body before the leaders’ summit in mid-December.
They said that in Oman he will discuss issues of common importance. The visit was welcomed by the Omani Royal Court, who said it comes from “the long-standing historical relations that link the Sultanate of Oman and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and to strengthen the bonds of affection, love and ties of kinship that unite the peoples of the two countries.”
The Omani court said it is also a chance for Prince Mohammed and Sultan Haitham bin Tariq to follow up from a meeting the Sultanate’s ruler had with Saudi Arabia’s King Salman in July.
Saudi state media reported that several joint initiatives will be signed, including in the areas of energy and business.
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