RIYADH: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has arrived in Saudi Arabia on a three-day visit to participate in the first trilateral US-Arab-Islamic Summit to be held in Riyadh from Sunday.
He was received by Governor of Riyadh. Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz invited Nawaz for the summit. The invitation was delivered by Saudi Information Minister Awwad bin Saleh al Awwad who visited Islamabad last week.
Nawaz was accompanied by his Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and First Lady Begum Kulsoom Nawaz.
In addition to King Salman and US President Donald Trump, 55 Heads of State and Government from the Muslim world have been invited to participate in the Summit.
The Summit in Riyadh will provide an opportunity for the participating countries to discuss how to overcome the menace of terrorism and extremism across the world. It is expected to de-link ‘terrorism’ from any particular religion, culture, civilization or region.
On the occasion, Nawaz will focus on Islam message of peace, tolerance and unity. He will highlight the great sacrifices and major successes achieved by Pakistan in defeating the scourge of terrorism and extremism in the region.
Nawaz will also join the world leaders to attend the inauguration ceremony of the World Centre against Extremism, an important counter-radicalization initiative by Saudi Arabia.
In response to media reports about the possibility of the Nawaz’s bilateral meetings at the Riyadh US-Arab-Islamic Summit, the spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the format and the very full agenda of the half day Summit which is expected to have the participation of more than 35 leaders of the Islamic world as well as secretary generals of the OIC, Arab League and GCC, does not permit sideline bilateral meetings.
