King, Putin oversee signing of landmark agreements

Saudi Arabia and Russia on Thursday signed several agreements, memoranda of understanding (MoU), and cooperation programs. The signing ceremony was held at Kremlin Palace in the presence of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Also, Putin held a luncheon banquet in honor of King Salman, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

An agreement for cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes was concluded between King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology and the Russian Federal Space Agency. Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources Khalid Al-Falih and the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov inked the pact. Several MoUs were also signed on the occasion.

They included MoU for cooperation in the field of communications and information technology between the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and the Russian Ministry of Communications and Information. Minister of Commerce and Investment Majed Al-Qasabi and the Russian Minister of Communications and Information Nikolai Kivorov inked the deal.

Another MoU between the Ministry of Commerce and Investment and the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade was signed by Al-Qasabi and the Russian Minister of Commerce and Industry Denis Mantorov.

The MoU for cooperation in the field of labor, development and social protection was exchanged between the Ministry of Labor and Social Development and Russia’s Ministry of Labor and Social Protection. Minister of State and Member of the Cabinet Ibrahim Al-Assaf and Russian Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Maxim Tomblin inked the pact.

A memorandum of executive program for cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy was concluded between King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy and ROSATOM. The Saudi side was represented by Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources Khalid Al-Falih and the ROSATOM was represented by Yevgeny Bakermanov in signing the deal.

A MoU to establish a Saudi-Russian platform for investment in energy area and another one for the establishment of a Saudi-Russian platform for investment in technology between the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and the Russian Fund for Direct Investment (RFDI) was also inked. The Saudi side was represented in signing the deal by Supervisor of PIF and Advisor at the General Secretariat of the Cabinet Yasser Al-Rumayan and the Russian side by RFDI President Kiril Dimitrev.

Al-Rumayan and Dimitrev also signed another MoU between PIF and RFDI on investment of the PIF and Leader Investment Company in three projects for roads and light trains in Russia.

Contracts for the supply of military systems and a MoU for the transfer and settlement of technology of those systems were exchanged between the Saudi Military Industries Company and the Russian Ross Abaronexport Company. The Saudi side was represented by Chairman of the Board of Directors of Saudi Military Industries Company Ahmed Al-Khateeb and Ross Abaronexport Managing Director Alexander Makki.

A Saudi-Russian road map was also exchanged between the Ministry of Commerce and Investment and the Russian Ministry of Energy and it was signed by Al-Qasabi and the Russian Minister of Energy Alexander Novak. An executive program for cultural cooperation between the Ministry of Culture and Information and the Russian Ministry of Culture was signed by Minister of Culture and Information Awwad Al-Awwad and the Russian Minister of Culture Vladimir Medinsky.

A program of cooperation in agricultural areas was exchanged between the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture and the Russian Ministry of Agriculture. The Saudi side was represented by Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Abdulrahman Al-Fadli and the Russian side by Minister of Agriculture, Alexander Taktchev.