Saudi Gazette report
JEDDAH — Canadian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Jean-Philippe Linteau, introduced the return of direct flights between Jeddah and Toronto for the primary time in 5 years, with three flights per week beginning in December.
In an interview with Saudi Gazette, Ambassador Linteau emphasised that Canada goals to raise its relationship with Saudi Arabia to new heights and has no intention of reverting to the earlier state of the connection in 2018.
He talked about that he arrived within the Kingdom with representatives from 26 Canadian universities and academic establishments to current academic alternatives and reengage with Saudi college students.
The Canadian diplomat, who started his mission in Riyadh 4 months in the past, finds himself at a vital stage within the historical past of the 2 international locations following a virtually five-year diplomatic rift.
The rift ended with a high-level understanding between Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Financial Cooperation (APEC) discussion board in Bangkok in November of final 12 months.
Saudi-Canadian discussions led to closing the chapter of disagreement and restoring diplomatic relations between the 2 international locations primarily based on mutual respect and customary pursuits.
Whereas Jean-Philippe Linteau began his diplomatic work as his nation’s ambassador in Riyadh, Saudi Ambassador Amal Al-Moallimi commenced her work within the Canadian capital, Ottawa.
There’s been shut coordination between the ambassadors to revitalize the connection and exploit alternatives for cooperation and progress between the 2 international locations.
Ambassador Linteau clarified “When the 2 international locations determined to revive diplomatic relations in Could 2023, our objective is just not to return to the place we have been in 2018, however to maneuver ahead, making the most of the brand new Saudi Arabia and the way the Kingdom has modified.”
“We concentrate on three primary features within the relationship, together with the commerce and funding file and the chance to develop what exists between the 2 international locations.
“Secondly, Saudi Arabia is now trying to obtain peace and stability globally, and we work collectively on that. Thirdly, Imaginative and prescient 2030 is a superb program, and Canada needs to assist its success.”
The Canadian Ambassador emphasised that what caught his consideration within the Kingdom is the tradition of hospitality and generosity that Saudis possess.
He highlighted that Saudi Arabia is quickly altering, and the immense transformation is simply totally understood when witnessed firsthand, expressing his amazement on the modifications going down within the Kingdom.
Relating to the developments within the relationship between the 2 international locations, he confirmed the resumption of direct flights between Jeddah and Toronto ranging from Dec. 2, 2023, and the reactivation of scholarships for Saudi college students in Canadian universities.
He defined the various alternatives accessible for commerce cooperation between the 2 international locations and the interplay of Canadians with main initiatives in Saudi Arabia.
He mentioned: “Imaginative and prescient 2030 is reinventing Saudi Arabia by way of financial variety, creating vital funding and commerce alternatives.”
He expressed his want to see extra Canadian firms put money into Saudi Arabia. He added: “The Saudis will profit from the financial transformation that the Kingdom is present process by creating job alternatives that contribute to improvement and prosperity.”
He identified that the huge social modifications within the Kingdom create quite a few alternatives for ladies to actively contribute to the nation.
The Canadian Ambassador thought of Jeddah an essential industrial hub and a gateway to the Two Holy Mosques, giving it particular significance in mild of the presence of greater than two million Muslims residing in Canada.
He expressed his plans to go to extra areas within the Kingdom, confirming that Saudi Arabia is a various nation with an curiosity in visiting many areas, together with AlUla, Al-Ahsa, and Asir, to get to know them up shut.