Riyadh: Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz held a meeting today in Riyadh with Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Alexander Novak. The two officials serve as co-chairs of the Joint Saudi-Russian Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation. According to Saudi Press Agency, the meeting reviewed various aspects of bilateral cooperation within the Commission's mandate and followed up on the progress made since the 8th Session. Notable developments include the recent launch of direct flights between the two countries, as well as the signing of several memoranda of understanding in fields such as industry, education, media, and Hajj and Umrah. Discussions also focused on the prospects for increasing trade turnover and expanding cooperation in key economic sectors of mutual interest. The two sides also discussed the preparation for the 9th Session of the Commission, scheduled to be held in Riyadh on November 6, 2025. Moreover, the me eting further addressed developments in the oil market and ongoing collaboration between the two countries within the OPEC+ framework.