PM Modi, Saudi Crown Prince meet today, to sign key deals on energy, agriculture
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will hold talks.
In Delhi on Monday, during which several key agreements, including energy and agriculture, are expected to be signed.
This is the Saudi Crown Prince’s second state visit to India since February 2019. He arrived in Delhi on September 8 for the G20 Summit. However, he extended his stay for the bilateral talks with PM Modi.
Starting with a ceremonial reception at the historic Rashtrapati Bhavan, the day promises a series of high-level interactions aimed at fortifying bilateral ties on multiple fronts, from economy and trade to culture and defence.
During the bilateral meeting between PM Modi and the Saudi Crown Prince at the Hyderabad House, a venue synonymous with diplomacy and the deepening of ties with various nations, the discussion will span across a diverse range of topics, ranging from political, security, defence, trade, economic and cultural spheres.
The two leaders are tasked with not only reviewing the existing cooperation under the umbrella of the Strategic Partnership Council but also envisioning future avenues of partnership, facilitated by two essential ministerial committees.
To underscore the comprehensive nature of the partnership, a formal signing of the minutes of the first meeting of the India-Saudi Strategic Partnership Council is scheduled at Hyderabad House.
Later in the evening, the Saudi Crown Prince will be received by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan, providing a platform for a dialogue that reaffirms mutual interests and discussions on regional and international matters that concern both countries.
In a bid to foster people-to-people ties, which remain a cornerstone of India-Saudi Arabia relations, both leaders will explore avenues to enhance cultural exchanges and appreciate the significant role played by the Indian diaspora in Saudi Arabia, which stands strong at 2.4 million people.
The Saudi Crown Prince’s visit comes on the back of a notable milestone in economic cooperation, with bilateral trade reaching an all-time high of $52.75 billion in the fiscal year 2022-23. India and Saudi Arabia hold prominent positions as trading partners for each other, with Riyadh being New Delhi’s fourth-largest trading partner and vice versa.
Furthermore, against the backdrop of the G20 Summit, Saudi Arabia partnered with several countries, including India, to launch a substantial railway and port project, aiming to streamline the flow of commerce, energy and data from India across the Middle East to Europe.
WHAT IS INDIA-SAUDI STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP COUNCIL?
The India-Saudi Strategic Partnership Council was established during PM Modi’s visit to Saudi Arabia in October 2019 as a mechanism to streamline and strengthen bilateral ties across diverse domains.
The council operates through two ministerial committees focussed on political, security, social and cultural cooperation, and economic and investment cooperation, providing a structured framework to foster deeper collaboration and understanding between the two countries.
The first Leaders’ Meeting of the council, co-chaired by PM Modi and the Saudi Crown Prince during this visit, signifies a commitment to nurturing this partnership to new heights, encompassing a wide array of bilateral concerns and opportunities for collaborative endeavours.
It represents a dedicated pathway to cultivate multifaceted relations between India and Saudi Arabia, envisioning a future of shared growth, stability and prosperity through concerted efforts and mutual respect.