NEW DELHI – India and Saudi Arabia on Tuesday inked more than a dozenagreements in several key sectors including oil and gas, defense and civilaviation to bolster their ties as Prime Minister Narendra Modi heldextensive talks with the Kingdom’s top leadership during which a StrategicPartnership Council was established to coordinate on important issues.
Modi, who is on a two-day visit to the Gulf Kingdom to attend the FutureInvestment Initiative here, called on Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz andthe two leaders exchanged views on working together closely to strengthenthe bilateral ties.
The two leaders condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations andagreed to step up bilateral security cooperation.Saudi Arabia, known to be a key ally of Pakistan, has pledged to extend allcooperation to effectively deal with the challenge, PTI has reported.
Later in the evening, Prime Minister Modi held wide-ranging talks withpowerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.After the delegation-level talks, the two sides signed an agreement toestablish the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council tocoordinate decisions regarding strategically important issues.
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The council will be headed by Prime Minister Modi and Crown Prince Mohammedand it will meet at an interval of two years.Briefing the media following the meeting and luncheon hosted by King Salmanfor Prime Minister Modi, Economic Relations Secretary T S Tirumurti saidthat the two leaders condemned terrorism in all its forms andmanifestations, and agreed to step up bilateral security cooperation.
