RIYADH, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabia and Poland signed on Monday an agreement to enhance cooperation in air transport services, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
The agreement was signed by Polish Minister of Infrastructure Andrzej Adamczyk and Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistics Services Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, who is currently on an official visit to Poland, said the report.
The agreement is expected to increase flights, tourism, and trade between the two countries, as well as strengthen Saudi Arabia's logistical capabilities and its position as a global logistics hub, the SPA quoted Al-Jasser as saying.
The Saudi minister added that the deal would help achieve goals outlined in the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, including expanding the kingdom's air transport service coverage to 250 international destinations and its annual air cargo capacity to over 4.5 million tons by 2030.
Through the agreement, Saudi Arabia specifically seeks to establish regulatory frameworks and strengthen the development strategy of the civil aviation sector, as well as expand the operational network of national carriers and promote relations with other countries in civil aviation, according to the SPA.
The agreement lays the foundation for regular air services between the two nations, including the launch of the first-ever direct route, Poland's public broadcaster Polish Radio reported Monday.
"Today ends a long era when our carriers were limited in forging direct routes between Poland and Saudi Arabia," Polish Radio quoted Adamczyk as saying.
Earlier in the day, the two ministers held a meeting to discuss ways to enhance bilateral cooperation in the fields of transport and logistics. ■
