New Delhi: The India-Saudi Arabia partnership was crucial for stability and welfare of the region and the world, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Monday at a meeting with Saudi Arabian Prime Minister and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud.
Salman, who began his state visit Monday after attending the G20 Leaders Summit on the weekend, said the two countries today were working on future opportunities. “I congratulate you on the management of the G20 Summit and the initiatives achieved, including the economic corridor linking the Middle East, India and Europe which requires that we work diligently in order to create it into reality,” Salman told Modi.
At the G20 conclave Saturday, India, the US, Saudi Arabia and the European Union announced a first-of-its-kind initiative to launch a mega India-Middle East-Europe shipping and railway connectivity corridor.
Speaking on it, Modi said this economic corridor would not only connect the two countries but also help in providing economic growth, and digital connectivity between Asia, West Asia and Europe. “Under your leadership and vision 2030, Saudi Arabia has seen tremendous economic growth,” Modi told the Saudi Arabian leader at the meeting.
#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi says "Yesterday, we have taken a decision to start a historic economic corridor between India, West Asia and Europe. This corridor will not only connect two countries but also help in providing economic growth, and digital connectivity… pic.twitter.com/9211qxD6M9
— ANI (@ANI) September 11, 2023
Monday’s talks were the first Leaders’ Meeting of the India- Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council – a bilateral agreement between India and Saudi Arabia signed by the two nations in Riyadh in 2019.
The agenda of the talks included “a broad range of areas of bilateral cooperation including energy security, trade and investment, defence and security, healthcare, food security, culture and community welfare issues among others,” according to a post on X by Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi.
The foreign ministry said the two leaders “reviewed the various facets of bilateral ties and discussed ways to further unlock the potential of the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership”.
Earlier in the day, Salman was given a ceremonial reception at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan as he began his state visit.
President Droupadi Murmu and Modi received him at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Salman then inspected a combined defence services guard of honour.
Following the reception, Salman held the bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister at Hyderabad House.
The Saudi Arabian leader also congratulated India on Monday for a successful G20 presidency.
“Well done, India. A lot of announcements were made that will benefit both our countries, the G20 and the whole world. So I want to say to India, well done, and we will work to create a future for both countries,” he told reporters.
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