Jeddah – Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud affirmed on Monday the importance of the 17th consultative meeting of leaders of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for Arab States, Gulf-US Summit and Arab-Islamic-US Summit to be hosted by the Kingdom at the end of the week.

Chairing a cabinet session at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah on Monday, the King welcomed the visits of US President Donald Trump and the leaders of Arab and Islamic countries that would participate in the meetings.

Trump will make Saudi Arabia his initial stop on his first official trip overseas, before visiting Israel and the Vatican.

Earlier this month, he said he would start a “truly historic gathering in Saudi Arabia with leaders from all across the Muslim world.”

King Salman asserted that the Saudi-US summit’s talks, expected on May 20, “will contribute to strengthening and enhancing strategic relations between the two countries in various fields and their aspects of cooperation on various issues at regional and international arenas for enhancing global security and stability.”

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques also said he looks forward that the consultative meeting, on May 21, would contribute to consolidating the Gulf solidarity and that the Gulf-US Summit will result in supporting relations and further concerted efforts towards achieving aspirations for enhancing security, stability and peace in the region.

The King added that the Arab-Islamic-US Summit to be held on the same day comes in light of challenges and delicate situations in the world, expressing his “hope that this historic summit will establish a new partnership in confronting extremism and terrorism, disseminating the values of tolerance and coexistence, and bolstering security, stability and cooperation to serve the present and future of our peoples.”