Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, governor of Makkah Region, received Sudan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Abdul Basit Badawi Al-Sanousi.  During the meeting in Jeddah, they discussed issues of mutual interest. The talks follow Sudanese President Omar Bashir’s official visit to Saudi Arabia in October. During their meeting, the king and the president discussed bilateral relations binding the two countries, in addition to the latest regional developments. Sudan has suffered under US trade sanctions for two decades and only recently the sanctions were lifted. Sudanese officials have acknowledged Saudi Arabia’s role in the US decision to lift the sanctions against the African country. Bashir thanked the king for his fraternal sentiments, and to the Saudi government for its efforts in lifting the sanctions.