As part of ongoing communication between the legislative and oversight body and the Kingdom's diplomatic corps, His Excellency the Speaker of the Shura Council, Sheikh Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al Al-Sheikh, received today at the Council's headquarters in Riyadh a group of newly appointed ambassadors of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to several brotherly and friendly countries. The meeting was attended by senior Council members, including His Excellency the Deputy Speaker, Dr. Meshaal bin Fahm Al-Sulami, Her Excellency the Assistant Speaker, Dr. Hanan bint Abdulrahim Al-Ahmadi, and His Excellency the Secretary-General, Mr. Mohammed bin Dakhel Al-Mutairi.
List of ambassadors and diplomatic presence
The meeting was attended by a select group of diplomats who were appointed by royal decree to represent the Kingdom in various continents of the world. They are: Ambassador appointed to Brunei Darussalam Saleh bin Abdulkarim Al-Shiha, Ambassador appointed to the Kyrgyz Republic Iyad bin Ghazi Hakim, Ambassador appointed to Romania (non-resident to Moldova) Khalid bin Eid Al-Shammari, Ambassador appointed to Nigeria Yousef bin Mohammed Al-Balawi, Ambassador appointed to Bosnia and Herzegovina Anas bin Abdulrahman Al-Wusaidi, Ambassador appointed to Burkina Faso Saad bin Musfir Al-Maimouni, Ambassador appointed to Albania Turki bin Ibrahim bin Madhi, Ambassador appointed to Ethiopia Abdullah Hassan Al-Zahrani, Ambassador appointed to Tajikistan Khalid bin Abdullah Al-Shamrani, Ambassador appointed to Myanmar Mazid bin Mohammed Al-Huwaishan, Ambassador appointed to Nepal Fahd bin Mohammed bin Munikhir, and Ambassador appointed to Vietnam (non-resident to Cambodia) Thamer bin Mohammed Al-Qusaibi.
Directives to enhance the Kingdom's international standing
At the outset of the meeting, Dr. Abdullah Al-Sheikh welcomed the ambassadors, conveying his congratulations on the royal trust bestowed upon them and emphasizing that this responsibility demands diligent effort to represent the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the best possible way. He stressed that the ambassadors are the face of the Kingdom and a mirror reflecting its balanced policies and unwavering stances in support of international peace and security. He noted that their role extends beyond traditional protocol to include strengthening strategic partnerships and opening new horizons for economic and cultural cooperation in a manner that serves the Kingdom's highest interests.
Parliamentary diplomacy: a supporting arm of foreign policy
This meeting underscores the integration between official diplomacy, led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and parliamentary diplomacy, undertaken by the Shura Council. Through its parliamentary friendship committees and its relations with international parliaments, the Council plays a pivotal role in bridging viewpoints and explaining the Kingdom's just causes in international forums. Coordination between ambassadors and the Shura Council is a cornerstone for ensuring a unified political discourse and strengthening the Kingdom's soft power abroad, particularly in light of current regional and international challenges that necessitate the concerted efforts of all state institutions.
The importance of timing and strategic dimensions
These appointments are particularly significant given the unprecedented developmental and political momentum the Kingdom is experiencing under Vision 2030. The new ambassadors are being sent to diverse geographical regions, including Southeast Asia, Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and Africa, reflecting the Kingdom's desire to diversify its alliances and expand its positive global influence. Strengthening relations with these countries directly contributes to opening new markets for investment, securing supply chains, and enhancing cooperation in the fields of energy, technology, and counterterrorism, all of which serve the Kingdom's national and economic security interests.
Ambassadors appreciate the consultative role
For their part, the ambassadors of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques expressed their deep gratitude and appreciation to His Excellency the Speaker of the Shura Council, commending this reception which provided them with the opportunity to gain firsthand knowledge of the Council's working mechanisms and responsibilities. They emphasized the importance of the support provided by the Shura Council to diplomatic missions, praising its efforts in strengthening bilateral relations with brotherly and friendly nations through parliamentary channels, and pledging to the leadership to exert their utmost efforts in serving their religion, their King, and their country in their new posts.
