DOHA, November 10. /TASS/. The partnership between Russia and Saudi Arabia within the framework of OPEC+ goes beyond oil market coordination and shows that the two countries can develop economic ties despite differing positions on certain international issues, said Abdul-Aziz bin Saqr, President and Founder of the Gulf Research Center Foundation.
Cooperation within OPEC+ has become one of the "key milestones" in bilateral relations, the expert said. "The partnership in the energy sector extends beyond interaction on the oil market, reflecting the ability of Riyadh and Moscow to continue economic cooperation even with certain divergences in political positions," he said, cited by Asharq Al-Awsat news outlet.
The positions of Moscow and Riyadh align on the Palestinian issue and security concerns in the Red Sea, as well as matters of international trade and shipping, though this does not preclude the need for a "more candid dialogue" on the Iranian issue, the analyst said.
As regards the economic potential of bilateral relations, the current volume of trade does not reflect the real opportunities in this area, the expert noted. "Opportunities for cooperation span energy, investment, industry, the mining sector, food security, and tourism," he added.