Saudi Arabia has made great strides to develop its economy over the last three years and the kingdom will be quite different in the next five years, declared HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

 

He was speaking during his participation within the Future Investment Initiative (FII) 2018 session titled "How Visionary Leadership Will Transform the Arab World into a Global Economic Powerhouse", together with HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Bahraini Crown Prince, and Prime Minister of Lebanon Saad Al-Hariri, said a Saudi Press Agency report.

 

The Saudi Crown Prince said all the major countries in the region are also on the path to progress and Middle East will be the new Europe in five years. Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE, Oman, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt and Iraq all will be quite different in the years to come, he added.

 

"We want to compete to raise the ambition in Saudi Arabia; we want everyone to raise the ambition. We can see that Abu Dhabi and the whole of UAE has moved very strongly in recording fast achievements. Since Bahraini Crown Prince came to office in 1999, the kingdom has achieved great and huge strides. This is nothing compared to what will happen in the next five years in Bahrain. Today, Kuwait has a vision 2035. It has wonderful people and very large financial resources. With great ease, it will be able to record huge achievements," the Crown Prince said.

 

If we succeed in the next five years, more countries will join us. In the next 30 years, the Middle East will make history, God willing, the Crown Prince stated.

 

"This is the war of the Saudis. This is my war. I do not want to leave life before I see the Middle East ranking ahead of the world, I think this goal will be achieved, 100 percent," he remarked.

 

Regarding the incident related to Jamal Khashoggi, he said it is very painful for all Saudis and for every human being in the world.

 

"This incident is completely heinous and unjustified. Today, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is taking all legal measures to probe and complete all investigations, in cooperation with the Turkish government, in order to reach findings and bring all culprits to justice to receive deterrent punishment. 

 

"This measure is what any government should do in such cases. The cooperation between the Saudi and Turkish governments is distinct," the Crown Prince said.

 

Prince Mohammed said: "We know that many are trying to exploit this painful situation to drive a wedge between Saudi Arabia and Turkey. I want to send a message to them from this platform. They will not be able to do so as long as King Salman, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and President Erdogan are in office. Such rift will not happen and we will prove to the world that the two governments are cooperating to punish any criminal and culprit. Justice will prevail."

 

Attending the event were President of Senegal Macky Sall; President Ali Bongo Ondimba of Gabon; Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai; Deputy Prime Minister of Ethiopia Demeke Mekonnen, and a number of princes, ministers, senior officials of a number of states and heads of the investment companies from around the world.