ROME: Saudi Arabia’s tourism minister presented on Thursday to the government of San Marino the candidacy of Riyadh to host the World Expo in 2030. Ahmed Al-Khateeb was accompanied during his visit by Deputy Tourism Minister Princess Haifa bint Mohammed, and by a technical and political delegation. They met San Marino’s Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, International Economic Cooperation and Telecommunications Luca Beccari, and Secretary of State for Tourism Federico Pedini Amati. Beccari recalled his “extremely fruitful meeting” in Riyadh in January with his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan. Relations between the two countries are “excellent and ready to expand more and more in several forms of cooperation,” Beccari said, adding that the two governments are working on an agreement on reciprocal protection and promotion of investments. Al-Khateeb said San Marino and Saudi Arabia “have a common interest in sport. We also already cooperate on tourism: Many of our citizens come here to visit the beautiful San Marino. During the meeting, we talked about bilateral political relations.” He added: “I believe the Expo will become an opportunity to improve relations with Europe, Italy and San Marino.” San Marino has been an independent state for 1,720 years, and has a population of nearly 34,000. With its medieval buildings, fine monuments and iconic landscapes, it is a well-known attraction for visitors from all over the world.