Second Meeting of Saudi-Chinese-Iranian Joint Committee in Riyadh Focuses on Beijing Agreement Implementation.

Riyadh: The second meeting of the Saudi-Chinese-Iranian Joint Tripartite Committee to follow up on the Beijing Agreement was held in Riyadh on November 19, 2024. The meeting was chaired by His Excellency the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Waleed A. Elkhereiji, with the participation of a Chinese delegation headed by H.E. the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, Deng Li, and an Iranian delegation led by H.E. the Deputy Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran for Political Affairs, Majid Takht Ravanchi. According to Saudi Press Agency, the Saudi and Iranian sides reaffirmed their commitment to implementing the Beijing Agreement in all its provisions and emphasized their continued efforts to consolidate neighborly relations by adhering to the Charter of the United Nations, the Charter of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and international law, including respect for the sovereignty, independence, and security of states. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran welcomed China's continued positive role and stressed the importance of its support in the follow-up on the implementation of the Beijing Agreement. The People's Republic of China expressed its readiness to continue supporting and encouraging the steps taken by Saudi Arabia and Iran to develop their relationship across various fields. The participating nations welcomed the continued progress in Saudi-Iranian relations, highlighting the significant opportunities this provides for direct communication between the two countries at all levels and sectors. The meeting participants also acknowledged the progress in consular services between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which facilitated over 87,000 Iranian pilgrims performing Hajj and more than 52,000 Iranians undertaking Umrah during the first ten months of 2024. Additionally, they celebrated the first meeting of the Saudi-Iranian Joint Media Committee and the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the P rince Saud Al-Faisal Institute for Diplomatic Studies and the Institute of Political and International Studies of the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Furthermore, the two countries have expressed readiness to sign a Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) and look forward to expanding cooperation in various fields, including economic and political domains. The three countries jointly called for an immediate end to Israeli aggression in Palestine and Lebanon, condemned Israeli attacks on Iran's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and urged the uninterrupted flow of humanitarian aid to Palestine and Lebanon. The countries also reaffirmed their support for a comprehensive political solution in Yemen, in line with internationally recognized principles under the auspices of the United Nations.