Riyadh, Berlin seek closer ties

The Saudi-German Joint Committee started the meetings of its 18th session here Thursday under Saudi Minister of Finance Ibrahim Al-Assaf and German Vice Chancellor and Minister of Economics and Technology Philip Rosler. Addressing the meeting, the Saudi minister said the joint committee gathering shows the keenness of both countries\' leaderships to develop their relations in all economic, investment and scientific areas. He commended the ongoing development of the important economic relations between the two friendly countries. For his part, the German official said that the Kingdom\'s economy is supportive of greater stability of the international currencies under the International Monetary Fund, contributing to the achievement of economic growth opportunities in Europe and the whole world as well. He pointed that the size of the German delegation currently on a visit to Saudi Arabia reflects Germany\'s great interest of the economy of the Kingdom. He noted that the delegation includes representatives in the fields of energy, petrochemicals and renewable energy, noting that Germany has the expertise and technology relating to housing.