Modi, Saudi King talk terrorism, trade; seek to develop bilateral ties
Riyadh: Seeking to inject new momentum in bilateral ties, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held wide-ranging talks with Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz on Sunday, discussing ways to expand strategic cooperation in a range of areas including trade, investment and counter-terrorism.
Energy-powerhouse Saudi Arabia is India's largest crude oil supplier, accounting for about one-fifth of total imports and both sides were of the view that cooperation in this sector should expand.
Before his talks with the King, Modi, who arrived here yesterday on a two-day visit, was accorded an official welcome at the Royal Court.
PM begins speech, says King Salman always tells him that he was taught by an Indian teacher, indic'g depth of r ties pic.twitter.com/vwyTWENonf
— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) April 3, 2016
In the last seven months, it is Modi's second visit to the Gulf, a strategically important region which is home to over 8 million Indians and key to India's energy security. He had visited United Arab Emirates in August last year.
India's ties with Saudi Arabia have been on an upswing over the last two decades based on burgeoning energy ties.
Read: GST will be reality soon: Modi assures Saudi business leaders
Both sides are keen on expanding the economic ties in a range of areas besides the oil sector.
Ahead of his talks with the King, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Aljubeir called on Modi and discussed a number of issues of mutual interests.
Also Read: Saudi Arabia visit: Modi visits TCS' all-women IT centre in Riyadh
Khalid A Al Falih, Minister of Health and Head of Saudi Arabia's national oil company Aramco also called on Modi. He told the Prime Minister that Aramco looks at India as its most preferred investment destination.
"Minister Al Falih to PM: Saudi Aramco looks to India as its No.1 target for investment," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.
Minister Al Falih to PM: @Saudi_Aramco looks to India as its No. 1 target for investment pic.twitter.com/rL1HERP9Wa
— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) April 3, 2016
Earlier, Modi interacted with a group of 30 Saudi and Indian businessmen and invited CEOs of top companies of the oil-rich country to invest in India's defence, energy,
railway, health and agriculture sectors.
Stating that there is huge opportunity to ramp up trade ties, the Prime Minister said time has come to move from "buyer-seller relationship" to chart a new path of growth and development which will benefit people of both the countries.
A truly Royal welcome. PM @narendramodi is welcomed by His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud at the Palace pic.twitter.com/uVmuJNVxWk
— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) April 3, 2016
"We have to look beyond the buyer-seller relationship.
Because that will be an obstacle in the path of progress," he said.
Modi is the fourth Indian Prime Minister to visit Saudi Arabia after Manmohan Singh in 2010, Indira Gandhi in 1982 and Jawaharlal Nehru in 1956.
His visit here comes amid the current turmoil in the Middle East and the issue is understood to have figured in his meeting with the Saudi leadership.