Saudi King in India after China: Asian partnership in trade
Saudi Arabia-India, Politics, 1/25/2006

The Saudi King Abdullah arrived on Tuesday in New Delhi in his second station in his Asian tour in a historic visit which is the first of its kind since 51 years. The Indian prime minister Manmohan Sing violated the protocol, in a sign of the importance of the visit, and received King Abdullah in Palam air base.

In Peking and before heading for India, the Saudi king met with the speaker of the parliament and with the prime minister of China. Talks dealt with most important regional and international issues including the Iranian, Syrian, Iraqi and Palestinian files and fighting terrorism and the dangers of nuclear weapons dissemination and reforms of the UN.

At the bilateral level, the Saudi King exchanged with the Chinese officials the vision on the mechanism that should be pursued to implement agreements signed on Monday, as well as to revitalize the proposal given by the Chinese President on strengthening relations between the two countries and expanding bilateral comprehensive strategic cooperation.

The Chinese official news agency XINHUA quoted the Chinese parliament speaker as saying that China and Saudi Arabia should concentrate on enhancing investments between the two countries in the fields of energy, trade and communications, adding that his country will work to conclude a free trade agreement as soon as possible with the Gulf Cooperation Council GCC and it is inspiring for a stronger relations with Saudi Arabia and the Arab states.

For his part, the Saudi king told the speaker of the Saudi parliament that Saudi Arabia considers China as "a real friendly country," hoping that relations between the two countries to be impoved " more rapidly" in the political and economic fields.

In India, talks of the Saudi king with the Indian leadership concentrates on fields of cooperation in the fields of energy and commerce and more joint projects between the Indian companies and their Saudi peers. The Saudi king will hold during this visit talks with the Indian prime minister dealing with fighting terrorism and cooperation in the field of trade and energy between the two countries. The Saudi king will be also meeting with President Zein al-Abidin Abdul Kalam and his vice president Sing Shikhwat and the leader of the Indian Congress party Mrs. Sonia Ghandi as well as the leader of the Indian opposition Lal Advani.

It is also expected that during this visit the king who accompanies a high ranking delegation includes several ministers and senior businessmen, the signature of three agreements pertinent to protecting and encouraging investment, preventing double taxation and fighting crimes and international terrorism.

The Saudi king will be the main guest of honor during India's celebration of its independence tomorrow. He will be also delivering a speech at a meeting for the businessmen organized by the Indian federation of the chambers of commerce and industry in New Delhi where he will open an exhibition for Saudi products, at a time when the Islamic University in new Delhi will invest him with an honorary doctorate on Friday.

However, a statement by the Indian foreign ministry commended the close relations between the two countries expressing hope that this visit will be conducive to strengthening relations into new prospects.

Previous Stories:
  Saudi king in China as everyone competes for limited oil supplies   (1/23/2006)
  Saudi Arabia, India for boosting bilateral relations   (1/22/2001)
  Indian foreign minister arrives in al-Riyadh on January 19   (1/11/2001)

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