First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong-kyun has met with his Saudi Arabian counterpart in Riyadh to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral relations in energy and other sectors, Seoul's foreign ministry said Thursday. The meeting between Kim and Waleed Al-Khuraiji took place Wednesday (local time) as a follow-up to President Yoon Suk Yeol's state visit to the Middle Eastern nation last October, the ministry said in a release. During last year's visit, Yoon held a summit with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and agreed to diversify economic cooperation and bolster business opportunities for South Korean companies. Deals and memoranda of understanding worth US$15.6 billion were signed with Riyadh, covering sectors that included crude oil, hydrogen energy, statistics, food and medical products. During the meeting, Kim called for strengthened cooperation, such as the participation of South Korean companies in construction and infrastructure projects like the Shaheen and Jafurah projects, the ministry said. A l-Khuraiji expressed hope to enhance cooperation with South Korea, a key partner in realizing its Vision 2030, particularly in areas, including hydrogen and other renewable energies. Riyadh has announced its ambitious plan to redefine the nation and move away from its traditional oil dependency. Source: Yonhap News Agency