Indian President Ram Nath Kovind has on Wednesday expressed country’s wish to be reliable and a strong partner in Saudi Arabia’s “Vision 2030” as he had hosted a ceremony for the Gulf Kingdom’s crown prince Mohammed bin Salman at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.
According to ANI news reports, while welcoming the crown prince, also known as MBS, on his first state visit to India, Kovind said New Delhi cherishes its friendly and cordial relations with the crown prince.
#PresidentKovind hosts a banquet in honour of Mohammed Bin Salman, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia at Rashtrapati Bhavan; says India wishes to be a partner in the Kingdom’s vision 2030 pic.twitter.com/h1Nxmbo70f
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) February 20, 2019
India uses to consider Saudi Arabia as its extended neighbourhood. The expanding scope of Saudi-India bilateral ties demands a sustained strategic engagement as well as frequent interactions between both the sides at every possible level, according to Kovind’s statement at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
MBS and crown prince have also held talks on various key fields such as bilateral ties between the two nations as well as counter-terrorism.
While citing terrorism as the gravest threat to the humanity, the president, in a statement on his official Twitter account, wrote: “India and Saudi Arabia, and the global community must come together to defeat and destroy these evil forces and combat radicalization.”
Terrorism is the gravest threat to humanity today. India and Saudi Arabia, and the global community, must come together to defeat and destroy these evil forces and combat radicalisation #PresidentKovind
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) February 20, 2019
Also, at the request of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia has ordered the release of 850 Indian prisoners lodged in Saudi jails.
MEA Spokesperson: At the request of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia has ordered the release of 850 Indian prisoners lodged in Saudi jails. pic.twitter.com/uZnJfWqnJf
— ANI (@ANI) February 20, 2019
Earlier on Wednesday, in a joint statement, Saudi Arabia and India have criticized in the strongest terms, the recent suicide bombing attack in Jammu and Kashmir on India CRPF – Pulwama terror attack – which has claimed the lives of about 44 CRPF personnel.
MBS who has arrived New Delhi on his two-day officials visit with a high-level delegation on February 19, has signed five MoU (Memoranda of Understanding) with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the area of information and broadcasting, tourism, housing, and investment.
HRH Mohammed Bin Salman and I discussed aspects relating to closer investment ties between our nations. We also had discussions relating to the oil and energy sector. I am glad that Saudi Arabia has decided to strengthen the International Solar Alliance with its participation. pic.twitter.com/RNLsTGHE29
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 20, 2019
Kovind said, “Saudi Arabia continues to be our most important source of energy. We need to take the current buyer-seller relationship to a strategic level.”
Kovind said India wishes to be a strategic and strong partner in Saudi Arabia’s “Vision 2030”. He said, “These are complementarities between our economies.”
The president said: “India companies have created jobs in Saudi Arabia, especially in the tech sector. India deeply values Saudi Arabia as a reliable partner for its energy security. We are delighted at Aramco’s participation in the upcoming world’s largest greenfield oil refinery.”
Indian companies have created jobs in Saudi Arabia, especially in the tech sector. India deeply values Saudi Arabia as a reliable partner for its energy security. We are delighted at Aramco’s participation in the upcoming world’s largest greenfield oil refinery #PresidentKovind
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) February 20, 2019