RIYADH: US Consul General in Jeddah Faris Asad met Taif Gov. Prince Saud bin Nahar bin Saud for cordial talks before visiting the Taif Chamber of Commerce and Industry. An introductory video was presented during the second meeting about the attractions of the Taif region, and Asad expressed his hopes for cooperation between the chamber and US companies in Saudi Arabia. Asad had earlier met President of Taif University Dr. Youssef Asiri, along with vice deans and deans of colleges. Discussions took place over opportunities for educational partnerships, and strengthening bridges of cooperation between the US Consulate General and the university, which is aiming to strengthen its educational, research and societal position at local, regional and international levels. The meeting is a further step on the university’s path to Saudi Vision 2030, for which the country is working with the US to achieve the goals of sustainable development. Saudi Education Minister Hamad Al-Sheikh also recently stressed the importance of cooperation with the US in education and scientific research. The minister said his country had encouraged universities to cooperate through joint research teams and exchange student scholarships. The subjects of engineering, health, management, information technology, English and law are the most studied majors by Saudi students in the US. Al-Sheikh said there were 20,639 Saudi students and trainees studying in American universities and other educational institutions, and the number of Saudi students graduating from the US during the past 17 years was more than 167,000.