US and Saudi Arabia discuss enhancing joint cooperation and regional developments

New York, October 31 (KUNA) -- U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held talks with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, on ways to enhance bilateral cooperation on a number of issues of mutual interest and regional developments concerning Iran, Yemen, and Sudan. The U.S. Department of State said in a statement Friday evening that the discussions took place during a meeting between the two ministers on the sidelines of the Group of Twenty (G20) foreign ministers’ meeting in Atlanta, Georgia. The ministry clarified that the talks addressed continuing cooperation between the two countries on several regional issues, including the situations in Iran, Sudan, and Yemen. It noted that Rubio and his Saudi counterpart signed an agreement during the meeting for U.S. participation in Expo 2030, to be hosted by the Saudi capital, Riyadh. The ministry quoted Rubio as saying during the signing ceremony that the agreement represents an important first step in preparing for a U.S. pavilion of global stature at Expo 2030 in Riyadh, expressing his country’s anticipation of participating in the event. He added that the expo offers an opportunity to strengthen bilateral relations with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, showcase the United States on the global stage, and expand commercial opportunities for U.S. companies. The U.S. State Department stated that the expo will open on October 1, 2030, and run until mid-March 2031, with Saudi expectations of attracting more than 42 million visitors from over 200 countries. These talks come on the sidelines of the G20 foreign ministers’ meetings hosted by the United States on October 30 and 31, aimed at enhancing international cooperation, discussing global economic challenges, and supporting market stability and supply chains. (End) A.S.T. / M.M.J.