| Date: |
09-03-2016 |
| Subject: |
Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir meets PM Narendra Modi |
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NEW DELHI: Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir met PM here on Tuesday with a view to elevate the bilateral strategic partnership to a new level that encompasses expanded counter-terror and economic partnership during Narendra Modi's April 2-3 visit to Riyadh.
Al-Jubeir who was here on a less than 24-hr-visit also met his Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj -- their third meeting in last six months -- to prepare for the Modi's trip -- first by an Indian PM to oil-rich Saudi Arabia since the Manmohan Singh's visit there in 2010.
"Prime Minister conveyed that India attached high importance to its close and friendly relations with Saudi Arabia. The Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia conveyed that relations with India were accorded a high priority in their Foreign Policy...Prime Minister expressed confidence that his forthcoming visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia would provide an opportunity to elevate the bilateral strategic partnership to a new level," a statement from the PMO informed outlining the discussions between the visitor and Modi.
It has been learnt that PM and the Saudi Foreign Minister exchanged views on further strengthening bilateral relations, including in the fields of trade, investment, energy, and security cooperation. They also discussed regional situation and agreed that the two countries have shared interest in peace and stability in the region.
Official sources told ET that Saudi Minister told Swaraj during their meeting that India was one of the most important relationships for Saudi Arabia and Saudi Arabia was keen to upgrade the relationship to a strategic level covering security, counter terrorism, maritime links, trade, investment and people-to-people ties. Saudi Arabia was India's largest supplier of crude but wanted to go beyond and make it a true energy partnership.
Referring to bilateral economic relations Swaraj told her counterpart that Indo-Saudi trade volume was good but the investment from Saudi Arabia was very low (less than USD 60 million). In this context, she invited Saudi investment in India's infrastructure sector. Apart from being India's largest supplier of crude oil, accounting for almost one fifth of its need, Saudi Arabia is also India's fourth largest trading partner. It has the largest Indian diaspora (2.5 million) in the Gulf region.
Sources informed Swaraj told her Saudi counterpart that India wanted a strong security and counter terrorism partnership with Saudi Arabia. In this context, she sought Saudi's support for India's draft Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism. The two Ministers also discussed the regional situation and the threat from ISIS.
The Minister also took up some of the issues facing Indian workers in Saudi Arabia. India is urging that the existing labour agreement with Saudi Arabia should be expanded to include sectors other than domestic workers.
Away from the public glare Riyadh and Delhi have been expanding their counter-terror initiative notwithstanding SaudiArabia's long-standing relations with Pakistan. Last month Riyadh handed over yet another terror suspect to India as the two sides are looking to expand counter-terror partnership after India and UAE have strengthened their security partnership. Earlier in 2012 Sayed Zabiuddin Ansari aka Abu Hamza aka Abu Jundal, one of the 26/11 accused, was handed over to India by Saudi Arabia.
Modi's Saudi visit assumes significance amid the current situation in the Gulf, rise and spread of the Islamic State (IS), Syrian crisis and recent cessation of hostilities there, strain in ties between Riyadh and Tehran (with which India's relations are growing in the post-sanctions period) and downward spiral in crude oil prices.
Source : economictimes.indiatimes.com
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