Following this evening's meeting between the
Prime Minister and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin
Salman a Downing Street spokesperson said:
“The Prime Minister jointly hosted the inaugural
meeting of the UK-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council with
the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, at Downing
Street earlier today.
“The meeting agreed a landmark ambition for
around £65bn of mutual trade and investment opportunities over
the coming years, including direct investment in the UK and new
Saudi public procurement with UK companies. This is a significant
boost for UK prosperity and a clear demonstration of the strong
international confidence in our economy as we prepare to leave
the European Union.
“These new investment and procurement
opportunities will be spread across a range of sectors
including education, training and skills, financial and
investment services, culture and entertainment, healthcare
services and life sciences, technology and renewable energy and
the defence industry.
“The Prime Minister said the UK was a firm
supporter of Saudi Arabia’s ‘Vision 2030’, an ambitious blueprint
for internal reform that aims to create a thriving economy and a
vibrant society – conditions that we agree are essential to the
Kingdom’s long-term stability and success. She noted that as a
world leader across a range of sectors, the UK was uniquely
placed to partner Saudi Arabia in delivering these vital
reforms.
“The Prime Minister welcomed recent reforms in
Saudi Arabia, including on women attending sporting events and
the cinema, and being legally able to drive from June. The Prime
Minister and Crown Prince agreed that we should continue working
together to explore ways the UK can support Saudi Arabia to
progress and intensify these reforms, particularly on women’s
rights, and on universal human rights, where the Prime Minister
noted our particular concerns in the case of Raif Badawi.
“The Prime Minister and the Crown Prince agreed
a new education partnership which will see UK experts help the
Saudi education system implement their ambitious domestic reform
programme, increasing levels of female participation and boosting
inclusivity. This will include UK experts undertaking a
comprehensive analysis of the Saudi education system, and sharing
best practice and recommendations for modernisation. We will
embed gender equality, equal access and equal treatment in all
aspects of our programme of support.
“Following the meeting of the Strategic
Partnership Council, the Prime Minister and the Crown Prince
received a briefing from UK national security officials on
foreign policy issues, including Yemen.
“The Prime Minister raised our deep concerns at
the humanitarian situation in Yemen. The Prime Minister and Crown
Prince agreed on the importance of full and unfettered
humanitarian and commercial access, including through the ports,
and that a political solution was ultimately the only way to end
the conflict and humanitarian suffering in Yemen.
“They also discussed Iran, agreeing on the
importance of working together to counter Iran’s destabilising
regional activity, and Iraq, including the importance of
supporting reconstruction efforts.”
