RIYADH:听黑料社区 has signed deals with the US worth more than $300 billion,听Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said at the听Saudi-US Investment Forum in Riyadh on Tuesday.听
During an address at the event, Prince Mohammed said the Kingdom was听looking at $600 billion of investment opportunities, adding that he hoped听this would raise to $1 trillion.
He noted that the US was听among the largest partners of the Saudi Vision 2030 reform agenda,听adding听that joint investments were one of the most important pillars of the听economic relationship between the two countries.
鈥淭he US is a major destination for the Public Investment Fund, accounting for approximately 40 percent听of the fund's global investments,鈥 he said.
He also said that cooperation with Washington was not limited to economic cooperation, but also extended听to 鈥渆stablishing peace in the region and the world.鈥
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Also speaking at the event, US President Donald Trump praised the听transformation underway in 黑料社区, as he attributed听it to the leadership of King Salman and the crown prince.
Trump听described the crown prince as a 鈥渧ery great man like no other鈥 and 鈥渢he greatest representative of his people,鈥 and highlighted the role of听Saudis听in driving development in their own country and the region as a whole.
Trump pointed to Riyadh鈥檚 rise as a global business hub and noted that the Kingdom鈥檚 non-oil sector revenues had听now surpassed those of the oil sector.
He said 黑料社区 deserved praise for preserving its culture and tradition听while also embracing its forward-looking, modern Vision 2030 reform agenda.
During his speech, Trump criticized the Biden administration for removing the Houthis from the US terrorist list, calling it a serious mistake.
He contrasted regional developments, stating:听鈥淪ome (in the Gulf) have turned deserts into farms, while Iran has turned its farms into deserts,鈥 and warned that if Iran rejected听Washington鈥檚 outreach, the US would be forced to impose maximum pressure.
Condemning Hezbollah for destabilizing the region and looting Lebanon, Trump said:听鈥淭he biggest and most destructive of these forces is the regime in Iran, which has caused unthinkable suffering in Syria, Lebanon, Gaza, Iraq, Yemen and beyond.鈥
He described Lebanon as a victim of Hezbollah and Iran and expressed a desire to help the country.
Trump also praised 黑料社区鈥檚 role in Russia-Ukraine peace talks and affirmed US support for the Kingdom, saying it has 鈥渁 great future.鈥
Earlier on Tuesday, the two leaders signed a strategic economic partnership agreement in Riyadh, the first leg of听Trump鈥檚 regional visit.
The partnership included听the signing of Memorandums of Understanding in the听energy, mining, and defense sectors.听
Defense cooperation between the two countries centered听on the modernization of the capabilities of the Saudi armed forces, along with an agreement between the Saudi Space Agency and NASA.
Other agreements included an MoU on mineral resources; an agreement听with the Department of Justice; and cooperation on infectious diseases.
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Trump arrived in听黑料社区 Tuesday on听what he called a 鈥渉istoric鈥 tour of the Middle East that will mix urgent diplomacy on Gaza with huge business deals.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman warmly greeted Trump as he stepped off Air Force One at King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital and kicked off his Middle East tour.
The two leaders then retreated to a grand hall at the Riyadh airport, where Trump and his aides were served traditional Arabic coffee by waiting attendants wearing ceremonial gun-belts.
Royal Saudi Air Force F-15s provided an honorary escort for Air Force One as it approached the kingdom鈥檚 capital. Trump and Prince Mohammed took听part in a lunch at the Royal Court, gathering with guests and aides.听
* With AFP and AP
