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LONDON: The Saudi foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, and his Syrian counterpart, Assad Al-Shaibani, discussed ways in which relations between their countries might be enhanced during talks on Wednesday on the sidelines of the Munich Leaders Meeting in AlUla.

They reviewed relations between Riyadh and Damascus, and discussed ways to bolster Syria’s security and economy to help fulfill the aspirations of its people, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

About 70 high-level participants from around the world have gathered in AlUla this week as ������Ƶ hosts a Munich Leaders Meeting for the first time. It is organized by the Munich Security Conference, which was founded in 1963 and meets in February each year in Germany, bringing together senior government officials, security officials and policy experts to discuss international security and foreign policy issues.

Also at the Munich Leaders Meeting on Wednesday, Al-Shaibani took part in a panel discussion on the transition in Syria after the fall of President Bashar Assad, during which participants warned of the risks of foreign meddling and the resurgence of Daesh.

After 14 years of civil war, the Assad regime collapsed in December in the face of an offensive by the group Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham, ending a family dynasty that had ruled the Arab country for five decades. The subsequent appointment of a transitional government in the country was welcomed by other states in the region, in the hope it will bring stability and security to all Syrians.

Meanwhile, the Saudi minister of state for foreign affairs, Adel Al-Jubeir, joined a panel of fellow ministers from the region to discuss US President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan, unveiled in Washington on Monday after his meeting at the White House with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. States in the region have backed Trump’s proposal for peace in Gaza after nearly two years of bombardment by Israeli forces.

The Munich Leaders Meeting in AlUla, which began on Tuesday and concludes on Thursday, is focusing on the security situation in the Middle East and its geopolitical implications.

The Munich Security Conference said ������Ƶ “sits at the crossroads of many regional and international dynamics,” and so the gathering in AlUla is “timely,” given recent conflicts in the region and the Kingdom’s growing role as peacemaker.

“In recent months and years, (������Ƶ) has repeatedly been the scene of different diplomatic mediation efforts or initiatives,” it added.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry said: “The Kingdom’s hosting of the conference underscores its commitment to the principle of international dialogue and to strengthening cooperation on regional and international issues.”

RIYADH: The Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Nature Reserve Development Authority has opened its pavilion at International Restoration Week, which began on Wednesday and continues until Oct. 5 in the Jax District of Diriyah.

Organized by the Heritage Commission, the event features participation from a distinguished group of local and international organizations.

The authority’s pavilion highlights the historic palaces of King Abdulaziz located within the reserve, which date back more than 90 years.

The pavilion also features a presentation on the historic Darb Zubaydah, one of the most significant ancient pilgrimage routes stretching over 1,400 km from Kufa to Makkah, which passes through the reserve.

The display includes an overview of key sites along the trail within the reserve’s boundaries, such as ponds, dams, and reservoirs.

The authority’s participation in the event highlights its dedication to preserving the cultural significance of historic sites, and showcases the Kingdom's distinguished efforts in heritage restoration and preservation.