MFA Press Statement: Visit by Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Home Affairs Masagos Zulkifli to Saudi Arabia, 19 to 24 November 2013

Senior Minister of State (SMS) for Foreign Affairs and Home Affairs Masagos Zulkifli met Saudi leaders and senior dignitaries in Riyadh, including Chairman of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities HRH Prince Sultan Bin Salman, Governor of Riyadh HRH Prince Khalid Bin Bandar and HRH Deputy Governor of Riyadh Prince Turki Bin Abdullah, on 19 and 20 November during his introductory visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

SMS Masagos also met his counterparts in the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Saudi Ministry of Interior.  SMS Masagos and Deputy Foreign Minister HRH Prince Abdulaziz Bin Abdullah affirmed the excellent bilateral relations between both countries and agreed to explore areas for further cooperation, including youth exchanges. SMS Masagos and Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior HE Dr Ahmad Al Salem discussed bilateral security cooperation, including counter-terrorism.

During their meeting, Prince Sultan Bin Salman briefed SMS Masagos on Saudi initiatives to preserve the country’s rich history and culture. Both leaders acknowledged the need to strengthen people-to-people linkages and explored further cooperation in the area of tourism.  

SMS Masagos had separate meetings with the Governor of Riyadh Prince Khalid Bin Bandar and Deputy Riyadh Governor Prince Turki Bin Abdullah. The leaders discussed the strengthening of cooperation between Singapore and Riyadh.  SMS Masagos also met Chairman of the Saudi-Singapore Friendship Committee in the Shura Council Dr Abdulrahman Bin Ahmad Bin Mohamad Heijan and discussed the strengthening of bilateral cooperation, including enhancing people-to-people exchanges.

From Riyadh, SMS Masagos will proceed to visit Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah, where he will meet other Saudi leaders and provincial Governors, as well as the Singaporean community in Saudi Arabia, including Singaporean students studying in Makkah and Madinah.    

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
21 NOVEMBER 2013