Prince Salman has made his second State visit to India.
During the State visit today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud to discuss trade, economy, defence, and cultural cooperation.
The first leaders’ meeting of the Strategic Partnership Council, a bilateral agreement signed by India and Saudi Arabia in Riyadh in 2019, was held at Hyderabad House, Delhi, where the two leaders co-chaired the high-profile meeting.
According to PM Modi, India’s strategic partnership with Saudi Arabia is crucial for achieving stability and global prosperity.
“Our relationships are taking on a new dimension with the current climate. We have identified several initiatives to take our close partnership to the next level,” he stated.
The leaders evaluated the performance of the Political, Security, Social and Cultural Cooperation Committee and the Economy and Investments Cooperations Cooperatories, which are part of a Strategic Partnership Council. They also addressed various aspects of bilateral relations, such as political, security, defence, trade, economy, culture, and people-to-people ties. Additionally, they discussed regional and international issues of mutual concern.
Prince Salman’s State Visit is the second time he has been seen.
The Saudi Crown Prince was given a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan at 10 am, before his meeting with PM Modi at 11 am.
“I am extremely happy to be present in India and would like to extend my congratulations to India for the G20 Summit,” declared the Crown Prince.
Following his meetings with PM Modi and other dignitaries, Prince Salman will meet with President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan at 6:30 PM before departing New Delhi at 8:30 PM.
Prince Salman has made his second State visit to India.
At the two-day G20 Summit in New Delhi, Saudi Arabia was among the signatories that signed on to the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor.
PM Modi and the leaders of various countries, including Saudi Arabia, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain, announced the initiative at the G20 summit, which is believed to offer a viable alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
PM Modi announced the establishment of a historic economic corridor between India, West Asia, and Europe, which will not only connect two countries but also promote economic growth and digital connectivity.
The project’s completion could transform into a contemporary Silk Road that functioned as the primary commercial pathway, enabling economic connections, political collaboration, and cultural exchange across multiple continents.
The ‘Vision 2030’ initiative, which was launched in 2016 and is focused on the economic, cultural, and architectural development of Saudi Arabia, was also mentioned by Prime Minister Modi.
“Your leadership and Vision 2030 have led to remarkable economic growth in Saudi Arabia,” PM Modi proclaimed.
India and Saudi Arabia have a close relationship.
The relationship between India and Saudi Arabia has been one of friendship and collaboration, with extensive people-to-people ties. Government statistics indicate that bilateral trade between the two nations hit an unprecedented high of USD 52.75 billion in fiscal year 2022-23.
During his visit to Riyadh in 2019, PM Modi revealed that India and Saudi Arabia have a regular Joint Committee on Defence Cooperation (JCDC) that explores various areas of mutual interest in defence and security cooperation.
The two economic superpowers are also significant trading partners. India is the second-largest trading partner of Saudi Arabia, while India ranks fourth in terms of energy imports from Saudi Arab states.