US energy secretary visits Saudi Arabia

The US energy secretary Spencer Abraham will pay a visit to Saudi Arabia, which is his first since he assumed his post of office. The visit will last for two days and falls in the course of his tour on the region after which he will visit Kuwait and Qatar.

The Saudi daily al-Watan said that the US secretary will discuss with the Saudi minister of oil Ali al-Nueimi the situation in the world oil market and means of preserving security in the area of energy and prospects of the participation of US companies in the Saudi investment projects.

Secretary Abraham, who is of a Lebanese origin, will seek to inform the capitals he will visit that the White House administration is determined to work for the return back of the US credibility to oil foreign exporters and to build strong relations with the oil- producing countries.

Worthy mentioning that Saudi Arabia and the US are linked to good economic relations and that the US is Saudi Arabia's first trade partner as the value of Saudi exports to the US reached in 1999 37.185 billion Saudi riyals, while Saudi imports from the US are estimated at 19.828 billion Saudi riyals.