​Prince Saud Al-Faisal, Minister of Foreign Affairs, signed here today a number of agreements between Arab countries and 'Central Asia and Azerbaijan', following the announcement of 'Riyadh Declaration' at the conclusion of the First Arab Cooperation and Economic Forum with Central Asia and Azerbaijan.

The signing ceremony was attended by Prince Abdulaziz bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs; and Arab League Secretary General Dr. Nabil Al-Araby.

The first agreement included signing a memorandum of understanding between the Arab countries and each of Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan which was signed by Prince Saud Al-Faisal and Arab League Secretary General as well as the countries' foreign ministers.

Meanwhile, Arab League Secretary General Dr. Nabil Al-Araby and Tajikistan's Foreign Minister Sirojidin Aslov signed a memorandum of cooperation.

In this context, participants stressed the importance of :

1 . Expand trade and economic cooperation .

2 . Encourage mutual investments , and create a suitable environment to attract businessmen and investors from both sides , and the study of the obstacles they face and ways to remove them , and the conclusion of bilateral agreements to protect and encourage investment and avoidance of double taxation .

3 . Promote closer cooperation in the fields of energy, renewable energy , and nuclear energy for peaceful uses , trade , transportation, means of new communications , the environment , sustainable development , agriculture, capacity building and training , tourism, statistics and databases , and intellectual property rights , industry, and scientific research , and opening prospects for financing economic projects and joint investment .

4 . Working to promote and develop the sectors of road transport , between the Member States of the League of Arab States and the countries of Central Asia and the Republic of Azerbaijan , and in this regard welcoming all projects that help raise the volume of trade through the development of linkage between the Arab states and the countries of Central Asia and the Republic of Azerbaijan .

5 . Cooperation in the framework of the " green economy ", including the issues of environment , agriculture, energy , stressing the importance of cooperation in this area and on the available resources in Central Asia and the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Arab states as a promising source of power and eco-friendly products , agricultural products and food resources .

6 . Welcoming to the Kingdom of Morocco invitation to the Central Asian states and the Republic of Azerbaijan to participate alongside the Arab countries in the forum of renewable energies , which intends to Morocco organized in 2015 , which will be an opportunity to exchange experiences and establish a network of relationships and to develop a joint projects in the field of renewable energies and energy efficiency.

7 . Exploring the possibility of liberalizing trade between their countries which will have a deep impact on the expansion and the increase of economic relations and the opening of investment prospects among them. They also emphasized that the revitalization of economic and trade relations can strongly contribute in promoting peace and stability and to increase and support the flow of trade between them, stressing the importance of the participation of the private sector and civil society in the activities of investment and trade.

8 . Welcoming the declaration released by the meeting of the chambers, the Arab federation and their counterpart in countries of Central Asia and the Republic of Azerbaijan , businessmen and investors from both sides , which was held in Riyadh on April 28 to 29, 2014 and approving for the first session of the Conference t Arab and Central Asian countries Businessmen and investors to be held in 2015 in Beirut , and the second to be held in Tajikistan in 2017 .

9 . Congratulating Kazakhstan on (EXPO-2017 Exhibition) which will be held in Astana , which will discuss ways of cooperation in the fields of renewable energy and the green eco-friendly economy , and congratulating the United Arab Emirates on (EXPO-2020). and calling upon the concerned institutions in the Member States of the Forum to actively participate in them , given the great opportunities they provide for establishing new partnerships to achieve sustainable development .

10 . Coordinating positions in economic forums and trade , and cooperating with other international actors in order to contribute to the process of economic decision-making at the international level in order to serve their own interests , which will have the greatest impact in advancing the process of trade and development investments and establishing strong and effective partnerships among them.

11 . Adopting multiple activities that reflect the role of Arab states and the countries of Central Asia and the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Arab-Islamic culture , calling for action taking to preserve cultural heritage and for cooperation to develop of programs in the fields of culture , translation, and educational institutions , through the establishment of joint cultural exhibitions, and art festivals , book fairs , and encourage the establishment of links between research centers and studies and scientific centers. They also emphasized the importance of cooperation in the fields of health care , reducing poverty and caring for the family and childhood , and the empowerment of women , youth , sport and cultural development and media.

12 . Encourage more dialogue and understanding between peoples and respecting the privacy of religious, cultural , and active participation in regional and international initiatives aimed at promoting dialogue among civilizations , cultures and religions and to promote tolerance , welcoming the establishment of the King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz International Center for Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue between the followers of religions and cultures , which was opened in Vienna 11/26/2012.

13 . Holding meetings between senior officials in one of the member states at the headquarters of the General Secretariat to follow up the implementation of the recommendations of the Forum .

14 . Thanking the committee of senior officials and the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States for their efforts in preparation for the forum , which contributed to the successful launch of the first session .

15 . Participants expressed their sincere thanks and appreciation to the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the hospitality and distinguished organization .

16 . Participants decided to set the date of the second session of the forum during 2016 in coordination with the General Secretariat and through diplomatic channels .