Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — Saudi Arabia and Iraq on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on bilateral cooperation in the fight against deadly coronavirus pandemic. The MoU also includes Saudi medical assistance to the Iraqi side.

The two sides also signed investment agreements on energy and sports, Saudi Press Agency (SPA)reported on Monday.

The Iraqi delegation, led by Finance Minister Ali Allawi, arrived in the Kingdom on Sunday. Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi was due to arrive on Monday but his trip was postponed after Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman was admitted to hospital for medical checks.

Saudi Minister of Culture, Prince Badr Bin Abdullah Bin Farhan praised the meeting between the two delegations, saying Arabia and Iraq “bring together culture, history, civilization and more,” and stated that despite postonment of Al-Kadhimi's trip, the two countries will continue to discuss partnerships in the cultural sectors.

The visit of the Iraqi delegation comes as part of activities of the Saudi-Iraqi Coordination Council, which aims to enhance ties between the two countries at the strategic level and cooperation in various fields.

The council aims to develop partnership between the private sectors of the two countries, open new horizons of cooperation in the economic, development, security, investment, tourism, cultural and media fields, deepen joint cooperation between the two sides at international and regional platforms and protect common interests.