RIYADH: Schools in the national capital will be closed for two days starting Tuesday to ensure smooth traffic flow when heads of government from Arab and the South American countries gather for the 4th Arab-South American Summit (ASPA).

Elaborate civil and security arrangements have been made for the summit, which aims to ensure better coordination between political leaders and civil society organizations from the two regions.

Riyadh Police has stepped up security on all the venues related to the summit, including the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center, which will host the inaugural ceremony to be opened by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman.

Also heavily secured at the Inter-continental Hotel, where the ministerial meetings are being held ahead of the summit.

A high-tech media center has been set up at Marriot hotel for the media persons covering the event.

Better known by its Portuguese and Spanish acronym ASPA, the summit will gather the 22 member-states of the Arab League and the 12 countries of South America to promote mutual relations and better coordination among their leaders.

The summit was first held in 2005 in Brasilia, Brazil, followed by a second in Doha, Qatar in 2009. It was last held in Lima, Peru in October 2012.