PM in Saudi Arabia on visit aimed at imparting strategic character to ties

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrives at King Khalid International Airport-Royal Terminal, Riyadh in Saudi Arabia on 27th February, 2010.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reached Saudi Arabia today on a three-day visit aimed at imparting a strategic character to the bilteral relationship beyond the traditional areas of cooperation between the two countries.

In a rare honour and setting aside protocol, Saudi Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz, brother of King Abdullah and the Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister of the kingdom, and the entire Saudi cabinet received Dr Singh on his arrival at the Royal Terminal of the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.

Among others, Second Deputy Premier and Interior Minister Prince Salman Bin Abdulaziz, Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal, Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz, President of General Intelligence, Prince Faisal bin Abdullah bin Muhammad Al Saud, Minister of Education, Prince Dr. Mansour bin Mit'eb bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Municipal and rural Affairs, Prince Mit'eb bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Commander of the National Guard for Executive Affairs and other princes and senior, civil and military officials.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh being received by Saudi Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz and other members of the Saudi Cabinet at the Royal Airport of King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on February 27, 2010.

The Prime Minister, who was given a red carpet welcome, shook hands with the Saudi Ministers. He will be accorded a formal reception by King Abdullah tomorrow at the Al Rawdah Palace, where their talks will be held.

It may be recalled that Dr Singh had gone to the airport to personally receive King Abdullah when he made a State Visit to India in 2006.

In a pre-departure statement here before embarking on the trip, Dr Singh said he and King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al Saud would also explore ways of promoting greater stability and security in the region.

"My visit carries special significance. I am conscious of the fact that this will be only the third visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Saudi Arabia. I, therefore, have a vast agenda for discussions with the Saudi leadership," he said.

Dr Singh said his visit reflected the strong mutual desire of both countries to reinvigorate bilateral relations as manifested in King Abdullah's historic visit to India in 2006 as the Chief Guest of India's Republic Day celebrations.

"The Delhi Declaration that we signed on that occasion constitutes a valuable blueprint for our cooperation in the future," he said.

The Prime Minister said the Gulf region was an area of vital importance for India's security and prosperity. He pointed out that India and the kingdom had enjoyed special relations based on several millennia of civilisational and cultural linkages and people-to- people exchanges.

He also noted that the Gulf state was India’s largest and most reliable supplier of its energy needs from the region. Saudi Arabia is home to an Indian community numbering about 1.8 million. As many as 165000 Indian pilgrims perform the Haj annually. India's trade and investment linkages have grown though they remain much below the potential of our two economies, and must be broad based, he said.

Dr Singh said there was great scope for opening new frontiers of cooperation in the areas of security, defence, science and technology, space, human resources development and knowledge-based industries.

"I believe India and Saudi Arabia have much to gain by cooperating with each other in combatting extremism and terrorism. I expect to discuss the situation in Afghanistan and other regional issues of mutual interest," he said.

The Prime Minister said he also looked to addressing the members of the Majlis al-Shura. He said a business delegation of CEOs was accompanying him, and he would address the Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry. In addtion, he will also meet members of the Indian community.

Dr Singh is accompanied on the visit by his wife, Ms Gursharan Kaur, Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Murli Deora, Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma, Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor and senior officials.

Cooperation in counter-terrorism measures and security matters would be high on the agenda of the visit, the first by an Indian Prime Minister to the kingdom in 28 afters after then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's visit in 1982.

Apart from King Abdullah, Dr Singh will also meet several senior Saudi Ministers who are scheduled to call on him.

The two sides are expected to sign several agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoU) on a broad range of cooperation in the areas of security, including an extradition treaty and a pact on exchange of sentenced prisoners, science and technology, culture and media during the visit.

Bilateral trade between India and Saudi Arabia exceeded $ 25 billion in 2008-09 and many Indian companies are active in various sectors in the kingdom.

Saudi Arabia meets nearly 20 per cent of India's crude oil requirements and India is looking at expanding ties with the kingdom in the area of hydrocarbons.

It is learnt that India has invited the Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), one of the largest manufacturers of chemicals, petrochemicals and fertilisers, to invest in petrochemical and fertiliser projects in India. Similarly, it is understood to be keen on invstment from oil giant Saudi Aramco in refineries in this country.

The two sides are likely to announce the setting up of a Saudi-India investment fund during Dr Singh's visit.

Since King Abdullah's landmark visit in 2006, the two countries have exchanged as many as 19 ministerial visits, indicating the close bilateral relationship is developing between the two countries. Bilateral trade has tripled in this period.

NNN