RIYADH: Saudi Arabia and Germany will hold talks Sunday to bolster cooperation in different sectors, including defense and culture.

Ralf Brauksiepe, German vice minister of defense, will visit the Kingdom for two days beginning Sunday to discuss and re-emphasize the need for closer cooperation, said Michael Ohnmacht, charge d’affaires at the German Embassy, on Saturday.

Ohnmacht said that the ministerial visit intends to further strengthen the relation between the two countries. “Vice Minister Brauksiepe is responding to an invitation by the Kingdom and will meet with high-ranking representatives from the Saudi Ministry of Defense during his stay in this country,” said the diplomat, while giving details of the itinerary of the ministerial visit.

He pointed out that “the German minister will exchange views with senior Saudi officials on common responses to the current crisis, in particular the common task of combating terrorism.” Brauksiepe is from the CDU, the party of Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel, and has been a member of Parliament since 1998.

Referring to the progressively growing cooperation between the two countries in cultural field, Ohnmacht pointed out that “Germany will be the guest country at the high-profile Janadriyah festival, which will be inaugurated on Feb. 3 next year.” The cordial ties between Saudi Arabia and Germany are already intensive and versatile, yet the ties between the two countries are even expanding further, he added.

“It is a great honor for Germany to have been chosen as the guest country for the upcoming 30th edition of the festival…it is recognition of the excellent state of our bilateral relations”, said the diplomat. The German participation will take place under the slogan “Germany--Land of Ideas: Innovation has tradition.”

In the German Pavilion, situated at the center of the festival site, the Saudi public will be able to learn more about Germany, he said.

“Germany is seeking a dialogue with the people of Saudi Arabia and we hope that the German pavilion can contribute to the mutual understanding of each other’s culture,” said Ohnmacht.