Tuesday August 27, 2019
Kabul (BNA) In an official visit to Saudi Arabia, President Ashraf Ghani met with Malik Salman King of Saudi Arabia, Chairman of Islamic Development Bank, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Head of the Saudi Fund for Development, Saudi Arabia's Minister of Interior and Secretary General of the Gulf States.
"The main purpose of the visit was to expand business and economic ties with Saudi Arabia, especially finding markets for Afghan products and establishing an air corridor with KSA." Presidential spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said in a press conference.
Sediqqi told the media outlets that the President discussed bilateral cooperation, economic development and long-term loans to Afghanistan during his meeting with the chairman of Islamic Development Bank (IDB), and the chairman expressed his interest in funding Afghanistan's development and agriculture sectors.
He added that IDB chairman and Afghanistan acting minister of finance, in the presence of the president, signed an agreement to build a 100-bed hospital and four clinics in Kabul. Construction of these projects is set to begin soon.
In a meeting with Saudi Arabia's commerce minister, the president discussed Afghanistan's agricultural products exports and economic growth. The Saudi Minister of Commerce announced cooperation to boost investment and marketing for Afghan products in Saudi Arabia.
Sediqqi further added that an agreement worth $ 100 million was signed with the Saudi Fund for Development, which will be spent on the construction of 100 schools and Kabul ring road.
King of Saudi Arabia strongly condemned the attacks in Afghanistan, and has pledged to work jointly to combat terrorism.
King of Saudi Arabia said that he is closely following the situation in Afghanistan and is hopeful for a peace process which preserves the interest of Afghan people.
He said his government is ready to make every effort to build peace in the region and to work to improve Afghanistan-Pakistan relations.
The president also met with Saudi Arabia's interior minister and emphasized on joint cooperation in the fight against terrorism.
Presidential spokesman said that the secretary general of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, during the meeting with the president, announced the OIC commitment to Afghanistan stability and jointly fighting terrorism.
Heading a high-level delegation, President of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan departed for Saudi Arabia on Saturday and returned to the country on Monday morning.
National security advisor, acting minister of finance, NDS chief and minister of state for peace accompanied the president on the visit.
