HRH the Crown Prince Welcomes Attendees to the GCF Annual Meeting 2024, Held in Riyadh

Riyadh, October 2, 2024, SPA -- The fourth edition of the Global Cybersecurity Forum (GCF) Annual Meeting kicked off today in the capital, Riyadh, under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
The event brings together high-level international figures, including former prime ministers, government ministers, decision-makers, policymakers, thought leaders, and CEOs, from more than 125 countries, to advance multistakeholder collaboration and action on Cyberspace issues. The GCF Annual Meeting 2024 will also run in conjunction with the Child Protection in Cyberspace (CPC) Global Summit.
His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister – may God protect him – welcomed attendees on behalf of the Custodian of The Two Holy Mosques – may God protect him, saying: “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has always been a force for good for the benefit of humanity and human prosperity around the world. It has continuously worked to uphold the principle of cooperation, and strengthen international collaboration towards efforts that support development and prosperity for all nations. It has initiated several initiatives aimed at achieving these genuine goals in all sectors.”
His Royal Highness added: “Cyberspace is closely linked to the growth of economies, the prosperity of societies, the security of individuals, and the stability of nations. The cross-border nature of Cyberspace means that it is increasingly important to harmonize international efforts to seize the opportunities it offers, and face the challenges it presents, by investing in people.”
His Royal Highness continued: “Believing in the importance of investing in people in this vital and promising domain, in 2020 we launched two global initiatives. The first relates to protecting children in Cyberspace, and the second focuses on empowering women in the field of cybersecurity. The institute for the Global Cybersecurity Forum is entrusted with overseeing both initiatives, as well as implementing the associated projects.”
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince highlighted the progress made by the two initiatives, most importantly the increased understanding of needs at the global level that has established new and inspiring visions that have enabled GCF to develop impactful initiatives and programs, publish research and studies, and formulate new frameworks and strategies. These efforts enable decision-makers around the world to develop policies and programs aimed at enhancing child protection in Cyberspace and enabling women’s participation in the field of cybersecurity.
Based on these achievements, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, also announced the launch of the Child Protection in Cyberspace Global Summit, hosted by the Kingdom as the first global summit of its kind, with the goals of unifying international efforts and enhancing the global response to the threats facing children in Cyberspace.
His Highness called on God Almighty to grant success to all participants in the Annual Meeting and the Summit, and for the efforts towards shaping a safe and reliable Cyberspace that enables growth and prosperity for all peoples of the world.
This year’s edition of the Global Cybersecurity Forum Annual Meeting is held under the theme ‘Advancing Collective Action in Cyberspace.’ It will feature panel discussions in which decision-makers, senior officials, and international experts from various government agencies, academia, and leading global companies, will engage with five main themes: Beyond Cyber Discord, Cyber Psychology, Cyber Social Fabric, Thriving Cyber Economy, and New Cyber Frontier.
-- SPA