HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani being received by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud of Saudi Arabia, in Riyadh, yesterday.

QNA/Riyadh


HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani took part yesterday along with leaders of Arab and South American countries in the opening session of  the 4th Summit of Arab and South American countries.
The session is taking place in King Abdulaziz International Conference Centre in Riyadh. The official delegation accompanying the Emir also attended the opening session.  
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince, First Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Interior of Saudi Arabia Mohamed bin Nayef bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud also attended along with Deputy Crown Prince Of Saudi Arabia, Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Mohamed bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz.
Other ministers, head of delegations and Arab civil society organisations attended the opening session as well.  
Addressing the opening session, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud of Saudi Arabia praised the previous sessions which took place in Brazil, Qatar and Peru.
King Salman expressed his pleasure at the support of South American countries to Arab causes, especially the Palestinian issue. He expressed his eagerness to co-ordinate efforts in the fight against terrorism and extremism.
The Saudi king described the prospects of developing the economic relations between Arab and South American countries as “promising,” especially in terms of supporting the flow of investments, exchange of experiences, technology transfer and indigenisation and co-operation in all fields.
King Salman called for establishing a council for the business people of the two regions  to consider  the  signing of  free trade agreements and encourage investments, which will provide a legal and regulatory framework to boost trade flows among them.
Earlier on arrival yesterday in Saudi Arabia to participate in summit, the Emir and his accompanying delegation were welcomed at King Khalid International Airport by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud of Saudi Arabia.
Also present at the airport to greet the Emir were Saudi Crown Prince, Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior Prince Mohamed bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, Governor of Riyadh Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdul Aziz al-Saudi, and Arab League Secretary General Nabil al-Araby.
Qatar’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia Sheikh Abdullah bin Thamer al-Thani and Saudi ambassador to Qatar Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Aifan, who is the head of the mission of honour accompanying the Emir, as well as staff members of Qatar’s embassy in Saudi Arabia, were also present to welcome the Emir. Page 8

Emir meets delegates
HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al -Thani held separate meetings with leaders of Sudan,   Ecuador and Venezuela - Omar Hassan al-Bashir, Rafael Correa and Nicolas Maduro, respectively, on the sidelines of the 4th Arab-South American Summit, in Riyadh, yesterday.
Discussions during the meetings dealt with bilateral relations and ways to develop them, as well as regional and international issues and topics on the agenda of the summit.
The meetings were attended by members of the official delegation accompanying the Emir.