Riyadh: On behalf of Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji participated today in the High-Level Conference of High Contracting Parties to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), titled 'Conflict Prevention and Preventive Diplomacy,' held in Manila, the Republic of the Philippines.
According to Saudi Press Agency, during the conference, the vice minister delivered the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's statement, emphasizing the necessity of strengthening dialogue, fostering mutual confidence, and expanding regional cooperation. He affirmed that the Kingdom recognizes ASEAN's vital role in advancing peace, stability, and prosperity and welcomes the progress achieved through recent ASEAN Summits in promoting economic integration and addressing common regional and global challenges.
Elkhereiji reiterated the Kingdom's commitment to strengthening its partnership with ASEAN by building on the achievements of the ASEAN-GCC Summits. He stressed that the two regions can unlock new opportunities for growth while enhancing resilience and advancing their shared interests.
The vice minister emphasized the Kingdom's continued advocacy for dialogue, diplomacy, and de-escalation as paths toward lasting peace and regional stability. He also reiterated the Kingdom's condemnation of unlawful Iranian attacks against oil and gas tankers, critical infrastructure, and civilian areas in the Gulf, reaffirming the right of states to self-defense in line with Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations.
Elkhereiji also condemned the false allegations made by the Houthi militia accusing Saudi Arabia of imposing a blockade on Yemen and condemned the militia's attacks on civilians and critical infrastructure. He reiterated the Kingdom's support for the Yemeni people and their legitimate government.
The vice minister affirmed that Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 is based on the principle of cooperation over confrontation and that economic partnership should drive lasting peace and shared prosperity. He added that, as a Party to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, the Kingdom shares a responsibility to uphold its principles by strengthening multilateral cooperation, enhancing preventive diplomacy, safeguarding freedom of navigation, and reinforcing dialogue as the preferred means of resolving disputes.
The conference was attended by Saudi Ambassador to the Republic of the Philippines Faisal Al-Ghamdi.