Cyprus and Saudi Arabia on Tuesday agreed to launch a political dialogue between foreign ministries, with a first meeting and political consultation to be held in Riyadh in the near future.

The decision was taken at a meeting between the foreign ministers of the two countries, Nicos Christodoulides and Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, in the Saudi capital.

According to a foreign ministry announcement, during their one-on-one talks as well as after in a meeting of the delegations, the two ministers discussed ways of further boosting ties between the two countries through bilateral agreements and by joint actions in areas such as trade, tourism and entrepreneurship.

The two ministers also discussed the situation in the wider eastern Mediterranean, Middle East and the Gulf and highlighted the importance they attach to regional cooperation, based on respect for international law and good neighbourly relations.

The two men also discussed relations between the EU and Saudi Arabia and confirmed the role Cyprus plays in boosting them.

Christodoulides also discussed regional and international issues as well as bilateral ties with minister of state for foreign affairs Adel al-Jubeir. He also met the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Dr Nayef Falah M Al-Hajraf.