Victor-Viorel Ponta

Romanian Prime Minister Victor-Viorel Ponta will arrive here on Wednesday to hold talks with top officials in which he will outline the framework of a comprehensive political and economic cooperation.

“Ponta will also discuss with Saudi officials the whole range of bilateral and regional issues including Yemen,” said Minhai Coman, charge d’affaires at the Romanian Embassy.

“A memorandum of understanding for closer cooperation in education will be signed during the visit,” said Coman, while giving details of the prime minister’s itinerary in Saudi Arabia.

Ponta is scheduled to meet Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, Crown Prince Muqrin and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif.

“This is the first visit of a Romanian prime minister since the two countries established diplomatic relations about 20 years back,” said Coman.

Ponta, whose entourage will include six senior Romanian ministers and 10 parliamentarians, will reaffirm the importance of cooperation with the Kingdom in different sectors, said Coman, while referring to the ministerial meetings that will take place on the sidelines of the visit.

A series of ministerial meetings involving Romanian Vice Prime Minister Liviu Nicolae Dragnea; Bogdan Lucian Aurescu, foreign minister; Daniel Constantin, minister of agriculture; Mihai Tudose, minister of economy and trade; Nicolae Banicioiu, minister of health; Mihai Cimpeanu, minister of education & research; and their Saudi counterparts will take place during the visit.

Asked about the major topics to be discussed with Saudi officials, Coman said that the official talks will focus on the growing political and commercial relations between the two countries.

“Yemen crisis, among other regional issues, will be one of the main issues to be discussed by the two sides,” he said. In this context, he also thanked Saudi officials for helping the evacuation of a number of Romanian citizens from Yemen.

“In fact, two Romanian citizens will be evacuated from Yemen with the help of Saudi authorities on Monday,” said the diplomat.

“About 60 Romanian nationals have been evacuated from the war-torn country with the help of Saudi officials so far, and about 10 rescued nationals traveled to Romania via Saudi Arabia,” explained Coman.

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