Crown Prince says Saudi Arabia proceeding with development path

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said the Kingdom is proceeding with its development renaissance in line with Vision 2030 and its ambitious programs that will help the country maintain its leading position globally and achieve further development and prosperity.

In his speech before the Shura Council on inaugurating the fourth year of the eighth session, the Crown Prince added that the Kingdom led in several fields, as it achieved progress in over 50% of the United Nations sustainable development indicators.

He noted that the Kingdom had the fastest-growing G20 economy in 2022, with an 8.7% rise in GDP and a 4.8% increase in non-oil GDP. In addition, Saudi Arabia ranked among the most competitive G20 countries.

The Crown Prince added that the Kingdom is keen to facilitate Hajj and Umrah for the largest possible number of pilgrims, as it received more than 1.8 million and 10 million Hajj and Umrah performers last year. This reflects the success of the Pilgrim Experience Program, one of Vision 2030’s programs, he noted.

Based on its leading position at the regional and international levels, as well as its influential presence at all levels, the Kingdom aimed to strengthen its relationship with brotherly and friendly countries, as it hosted a number of major summits that brought together more than 100 countries last year, the Crown Prince said.

He added that choosing the Kingdom to host Expo 2030 indicates that it has strong global standing to host the most prominent international events.

"Saudi Arabia held an extraordinary joint Arab-Islamic Summit to discuss the painful events experienced by our brothers in Gaza," the Crown Prince said, adding that the Kingdom urged joint Arab and Islamic efforts to pressure the international community to seriously stop the Israeli aggression and allow the entry of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.

The Crown Prince also said the Kingdom's consistent approach is based on respect for the national sovereignty of all countries, non-interference in their internal affairs, and a permanent commitment to the principles of international legitimacy.

In addition, the Kingdom adheres to the principles of good neighborliness and seeks to resolve disputes peacefully and enhance security and stability in the region and the world.