Second Deputy Premier discusses with Swiss President bilateral relations, general developments

Prince Naif opens projects worth SR1.600 billion in al-Imam University

Prince Naif says Saudi Arabia has always been interested in science based on Islamic principles

Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz, Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior, inaugurated development projects worth SR1.6 billion at Imam Mohammed bin Saud Islamic University during his patronage of the opening ceremony of the two-day Social Partnership Forum in the flied of Scientific Research, organized by the Scientific Research Deanship and Research Chair Program at the university.

Upon arrival at the venue, Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz was received by Prince Saud bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz; Prince Dr. Bandar bin Salman bin Mohammed Al Saud, Advisor to the King, Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Thinayyan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of SABIC, Kingdom's General Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al Alsheikh, who is also Chairman of Senior Ulema Commission, and Religious Research Administration and Ifta, Sheikh Saleh bin Mohammed Al-Lihaidan, Member of the Senior Ulema Commission, Dr. Khalid bin Mohammd Al-Anqari, Minister of Higher Education, Dr. Abdulaziz bin Moyeddin Khoja, Minister of Culture and Information, Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Salem, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior, Dr. Saed Alorabi Alharthi, Advisor to the Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior and Dr. Suleiman bin Abdullah Albalkhail, Rector of Imam Mohammed bin Saud Islamic University.

In a keynote speech, the Rector of the University announced that the Research and Consultative Services Institute, an affiliate of the university, was named after Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz, the Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior, to become: Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz Institute for Research and Consultative Services.

Abalkhail also announced the donation of Prince Naif of SR10 million in support of the institute.

Addressing the gathering, Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz expressed pleasure to open some important and great development projects at this educational giant facility which holds the name of Imam Mohamed bin Saud who laid the foundation of his rule upon Islamic pillars.

He said the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has paid great attention to science in all aspects of life, citing the adoption of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of this policy making it a priority of the comprehensive development plans.

To achieve this, abundant financial sums were allocated in the state budget for supporting higher education and scientific research equivalent to a quarter of the public budget, Prince Naif said, adding that the government also encouraged the research partnership efforts at the local and international levels aiming at transferring international expertise to the Kingdom.

He said that the current national initiatives in support of specialized research chairs at the Kingdom's universities auger well for the coming generations according to the aspirations of the monarch and his crown prince.

Concluding his speech, Prince Naif thanked the officials of the university for choosing this important issue of social partnership in the field of scientific research as title of the forum.

Then the Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior laid the foundation stone and opening of development projects in the amount of SR1.6 billion.

The event was attended by Prince Fahd bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, and a number of university officials.

On the other hand, Prince Naif received the Swiss President and Chief of Federal Department of Finance, Hans-Rudolf Merz and the accompanying delegation currently visiting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

During the meeting, they discussing ways of enhancing bilateral relations between the two countries in various fields as well as regional and international issues of common interest. The meeting was attended by a number of officials.