His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, received at the Royal Court in Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh this evening, the Federal Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Friedrich Merz. An official welcoming ceremony befitting the strong relations between the two friendly countries was held for the guest of the Kingdom.
Official talks session to deepen cooperation
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the German Chancellor held an expanded official meeting, which His Royal Highness began by welcoming the Kingdom's guest and his accompanying delegation, wishing them a pleasant stay. The German Chancellor expressed his great pleasure at visiting the Kingdom and meeting His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, praising the warm reception and generous hospitality. The meeting included a comprehensive review of the distinguished bilateral relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Federal Republic of Germany, and explored ways to enhance them in various vital sectors.
Strategic and economic dimensions of bilateral relations
This visit comes at a crucial time, reflecting the depth of the strategic partnership between Berlin and Riyadh. Germany is the largest economy in Europe, while Saudi Arabia holds significant economic and political weight in the Middle East. The discussions are particularly important given both countries' efforts to strengthen economic and investment cooperation, especially in the renewable energy, green hydrogen, manufacturing, and technology sectors. This aligns with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, which opens up broad opportunities for German companies to contribute to the Kingdom's major projects.
Joint coordination regarding regional and international issues
The discussions were not limited to bilateral matters but also included a review of the latest developments on the regional and international stages. The two sides discussed efforts to achieve security and stability in the region and the importance of joint coordination to address current challenges. This meeting underscores the pivotal role played by the Kingdom, under the leadership of the Crown Prince, in international decision-making, and the keenness of major world powers, such as Germany, to maintain ongoing consultations with the Saudi leadership to ensure the stability of energy markets and the preservation of international peace and security.
High-level attendance from both sides
The high-level ministerial attendance reflected the importance of the issues raised for discussion. The Saudi side included Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, Minister of State and Cabinet Member Prince Turki bin Mohammed bin Fahd, Deputy Governor of Riyadh Region Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, Minister of the National Guard Prince Abdullah bin Bandar, Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah, National Security Advisor Dr. Musaed Al-Aiban, Minister of Commerce Dr. Majid Al-Qasabi, Minister of Finance Mohammed Al-Jadaan (the accompanying minister), Minister of Investment Engineer Khalid Al-Falih, and the Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to Germany Fahd Al-Hathal.
On the German side, the talks were attended by State Secretary and Federal Government Spokesperson Stephan Cornelius, German Ambassador to the Kingdom Michael Kindsgrab, State Advisor to the Federal Chancellor for Foreign and Security Policy Dr. Günter Sautter, State Advisor to the Federal Chancellor for Economic and Financial Policy Dr. Levin Höle, in addition to a number of senior officials in the German government.
