RIYADH: A comprehensive and integrated approach is needed to ensure energy security amongst citizens, according to the Assistant Secretary-General and Head of the Economic Affairs Sector at the Arab League, Ali Al-Maliki.

During the 12th celebration of Arab Energy Efficiency Day, Al-Maliki urged the adoption of new measures to address this critical issue.  

“Energy security is a fundamental issue due to its direct impact on economic growth, national security, and the well-being of all Arab citizens,” he stated in a speech delivered on his behalf by the Director of the Energy Department at the General Secretariat of the Arab League, Jamila Mattar.

“We are all aware of the challenges we face in terms of energy security and the transition to more sustainable sources,” the speech said.  

“To confront these challenges, the world needs to adopt a comprehensive and integrated approach to energy security that takes into account the need to increase energy efficiency, develop renewable energy, protect vital energy infrastructure, and work to reduce harmful carbon emissions,” the text added. 

Al-Maliki emphasized that efficiency is one of the basic pillars of energy security, according to a report by Bahrain News Agency. 

He noted that achieving energy security involves providing services at the lowest cost without compromising quality and managing demand by introducing various concepts related to efficiency.

This approach aims to reduce consumption without conflicting with the developmental plans of each country.  

Al-Maliki highlighted the council’s efforts to monitor the stages of efficiency in the Arab region. This includes developing, implementing, and monitoring national efficiency plans.  

The council has also prepared the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Guide in Arab Countries, which provides statistical information on policies and programs adopted in nations to enhance the efficiency of production and consumption and the use of renewables.  

Additionally, the guide details the institutional and legal frameworks and the necessary financial incentives implemented or planned in these fields. 

RIYADH: Saudi and Chinese top officials are holding joint meetings in Beijing focused on fostering international economic growth.

The sessions, which are slated to take place from May 20 - 21 in Beijing, include the Kingdom’s Minister of Finance Mohammed Al-Jadaan, the newly appointed Vice Minister of Finance Abdulmuhsen Al-Khalaf, along with officials from the Ministry of Finance, the National Center for Privatization, and the Saudi Central Bank.

Officials from the Capital Market Authority, Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority as well as the National Development Fund, are also part of the delegation, as well as representatives from the Saudi Fund for Development, and the National Infrastructure Fund.

In a post on his X account, Al-Jadaan said: “Today (May 20), as part of my visit to China, I met with the Chinese Minister of Finance, Lan Fo’an. We discussed ways to enhance the finance, trade and investment cooperation between Saudi Arabia and China to advance prosperity and growth for the global economy.”

The Saudi finance minister and his Beijing counterpart co-chaired the third meeting of the Financial Sub-Committee for the High-level Chinese-Saudi Joint Committee, where Al-Jadaan emphasized that China is a key partner in the Kingdom’s transformation under Vision 2030, according to a statement by the Saudi Finance Ministry.

The release added that the minister would participate in a roundtable discussion organized by the NCP in cooperation with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China.

Al-Jadaan will also speak with various Chinese ministers, officials, and investors, focusing on recent economic and financial developments, shared interests, and investment prospects in Saudi Arabia, aligning with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals.

Meanwhile, Al-Khalaf and the Chinese Vice Minister of Finance, Liao Min, will co-chair a roundtable meeting hosted by the Chinese Ministry of Finance and organized by the China Development Bank and the China Investment Corp.

Al-Jadaan’s visit to the Asian powerhouse comes after he used a panel discussion at the Qatar Economic Forum on May 14 to urge financial planners to optimize their strategies to curb “economic leakage” and prevent resources or funds from being wasted.

Calling for the adoption of prudent fiscal policies, the minister said at the event that spending during a time of global inflation results in increased project costs, which he believes further fuels inflation and “overheats” the economy.

Diplomatic and economic ties between Saudi Arabia and China have been strengthening in recent years, and in November the Kingdom’s central bank, also known as SAMA, and the People’s Bank of China signed a local currency swap agreement worth $6.93 billion.

The agreement will last three years, but China’s central bank said at the time it can be extended after two years by mutual agreement.