Talks with Trump a turning point in bilateral ties: King

Saudi Gazette report Riyadh — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman said here on Monday that his talks with US President Donald Trump, the Joint Strategic Vision Declaration and the exchange of trade agreements and investment opportunities exceeding $280 billion are a turning point in relations between the Kingdom and the US. Chairing the weekly session of the Council of Ministers at Al-Yamama Palace, the King said that Trump’s visit — the first by him to a foreign country as president — will help upgrade the Saudi-US relations from strategic partnership and intensify the levels of consultation, cooperation and coordination in various areas. The King said the GCC-US Summit and Arab Islamic American Summit showed the concern and determination of all participating countries to contribute to every matter in confronting different challenges and strengthening the foundations of peace, security and stability. King Salman said that the historic agreement signed on Sunday by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states and the US to take firm measures to target the financing of terrorism by establishing the Terrorist Financing Targeting Center (TFTC) in Riyadh came as an extension of the efforts being exerted to combat terrorism. The King said the launch of the Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology is to spread the principles of moderation, fortify families and counter paltry arguments of terrorists because extremism breeds terrorism. In the presence of leaders from Muslim countries, King Salman and US President Donald Trump inaugurated the Global Center for Combatting Extremist Ideology (GCCEI) here on Sunday. The center counters and prevents the spread of extremist ideology by promoting moderation, compassion and supporting the dissemination of positive dialogue.