King Salman and Merkel hold talks, attend signing of cooperation projects

King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud received at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah on Sunday Dr. Angela Merkel, the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior, was also present.

An official reception ceremony was held for Chancellor Merkel, the national anthems of the two countries were played and she reviewed the guard of honor.

King Salman shook hands with members of the official delegation accompanying the German Chancellor, and held a luncheon banquet in her honor and her accompanying delegation.

The reception and the banquet were attended by Prince Khalid al-Faisal bin Abdulaziz, Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and Governor of Makkah region, and a number of princes.

Then King Salman held a session of official talks with German Chancellor. During the session, they reviewed bilateral relations and aspects of cooperation between the two countries in various fields and discussed the latest developments on regional and international arenas.

Then both leaders attended signing ceremony of MoUs and cooperation projects as follows:

A memorandum of understanding on the development of sustainable industries was co-signed by Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources Eng Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Faleh and Siemens CEO Joe Kaeser.

A draft common declaration of intent between the Ministry of Interior of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the German Federal Police was co-signed by Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Salem and German Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Dieter Walter Haller.

A draft common declaration of intent in the field of development cooperation between the Saudi Fund for Development and the German Federal Ministry of Cooperation, Economy and Development was co-signed Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Fund for Development Eng. Yousuf bin Ibrahim Al-Bassam and German Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Dieter Walter Haller.

An executive cooperation program in the field of technical and vocational training was co-signed by Governor of Technical and Vocational Training Corporation Dr. Ahmed bin Fahd Al-Fuhaid and Siemens CEO Joe Kaeser.
A draft agreement for training students in German military installations between the Ministry of Defense of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Defense of the Federal Republic of Germany was co-signed by President of Armed Forces Education and Training Commission Major General Ahmed bin Abdulrahman Al-Shehri and German Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Dieter Walter Haller.

A memorandum of understanding on supporting and empowering Vision 2030 and National Transition Program in relation to its digital strategy and related technological solutions was co-signed by Acting General Supervisor of National Digital Transformation at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology Demah Yahya Al-Yahya and SAP Saudi Arabia Software Trading CEO Ahmad Jaber Al-Faifi.