Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Mohi-Eddin Salem hailed the strength of Sudan-Saudi relations, praising Saudi Arabia’s leading role and steadfast support for Sudan, particularly during the country’s most difficult periods. Speaking at a press conference at the Sudanese Embassy in Riyadh following the signing of the agreement establishing the Sudan-Saudi Supreme Council for Strategic Cooperation and Coordination, Salem said the council would deepen cooperation and integration across various fields and facilitate discussions on shared national issues in Sudan and abroad. He said the agreement underscored the deep historic ties between the two brotherly peoples and reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s importance to Sudan, noting that bilateral relations continue to expand. Salem expressed appreciation for Saudi Arabia’s positions and sustained support for Sudan, thanking the Saudi leadership, government and people. Sudan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Dafaa-Allah Al-Haj Ali said the establishment of the council marked an important step, noting that Sudan is now the 28th country to establish a coordination council with Saudi Arabia, reflecting Sudan’s standing in the Kingdom’s vision of its international relations. The ambassador said the council would operate through specialized committees covering political, economic, security and social affairs, with the aim of developing high-impact initiatives and building a partnership based on mutual interests and benefits across both the public and private sectors. He highlighted the council’s particular economic importance, saying it would seek to develop solutions to facilitate the flow of investment into Sudan. He stressed the need for serious studies of clear and ambitious projects capable of providing the foundation for a genuine economic partnership between the two countries. Al-Haj Ali said the agreement was not reached suddenly, but was the result of intensive behind-the-scenes consultations that culminated in its signing. He thanked Saudi Arabia’s leadership, government and people for their sustained attention to and engagement with relations with Sudan. He also praised the support of the President of the Transitional Sovereignty General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan for the efforts that led to the agreement. The ambassador said Saudi Arabia, with its political, economic and diplomatic weight and influential regional presence, is an important strategic partner for Sudan. He noted that the Kingdom has stood by Sudan at numerous critical junctures and deserves recognition for maintaining engagement with Sudan and supporting efforts toward peace, stability and development.BH/BH