New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who is on a three-day visit to Saudi Arabia, on Sunday met Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud in Jeddah and apprised him of the bilateral ties between the two countries.
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and the Deputy Prime Minister, received a written message from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the official Saudi Press Agency reported.
"Honoured to call on HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah this evening. Conveyed the warm greetings of PM @narendramodi. Apprised him of the progress in our bilateral relations. Thank him for sharing his vision of our ties," tweeted Jaishankar.
During the meeting, bilateral relations between the two countries and opportunities for enhancing them were reviewed and the latest regional and international developments, as well as the efforts being exerted towards them, were discussed, Saudi Press Agency reported.
Jaishankar also held "warm and productive" talks with his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan and discussed current global political as well as economic issues and agreed to work closely together in G-20 and multilateral organisations.
The foreign minister also co-chaired with his Saudi counterpart the first ministerial meeting of the Committee on Political, Security, Social and Cultural Cooperation (PSSC).
"Warm and productive meeting with Saudi Foreign Minister HH Prince @FaisalbinFarhan this afternoon. Co-chaired the Political, Security, Social and Cultural Committee of the India-Saudi Partnership Council," Jaishankar tweeted in both English and Arabic.
Both leaders discussed current global political and economic concerns. "Agreed to work closely together in G20 and multilateral organizations," he added.
"Our collaboration holds promise of shared growth, prosperity, stability, security and development," he added in another tweet.
More than 18 per cent of India's crude oil imports are secured from Saudi Arabia. During FY22 (April -December), bilateral trade was valued at $29.28 billion. During this period, India's imports from Saudi Arabia were valued at $22.65 billion and exports to Saudi Arabia were worth $6.63 billion.
"The two Ministers will undertake a comprehensive review of the entire bilateral relationship and will discuss the progress under the four Joint Working Groups of the PSSC Committee, namely Political & Consular; Legal and Security; Social and Cultural and Joint Committee on Defence Cooperation," the MEA had said earlier.
The meetings of these Groups and Senior Officials (at the Secretary level) have been held over the past few months, the release added.
India-Saudi Arabia relations have strengthened considerably over the past few years including in political, security, energy, trade, investment, health, food security, cultural and defence fields. The top leaders of both nations remained in touch even during the Covid-19 pandemic.
(With Agency Inputs)