RIYADH: External Affairs Minister’s meeting with Foreign Minister of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

RIYADH: External
Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar met the visiting Foreign Minister of Kingdom
of Saudi Arabia H.H. Prince Faisal bin Farhan al Saud today at Hyderabad House
in New Delhi. This is the first ministerial visit from Saudi Arabia to India
since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. Both Ministers discussed all
issues related to their bilateral relationship and regional and international
issues of mutual interest.

The two Ministers reviewed the implementation of the Strategic Partnership
Council Agreement signed between the two sides during the visit of Prime
Minister Shri Narendra Modi to Saudi Arabia in October 2019. They expressed
satisfaction at the meetings held under the Agreement and progress achieved.
Both sides discussed further steps to strengthen their partnership in trade,
investment, energy, defence, security, culture, consular issues, health care
and human resources.

Both Ministers exchanged views on the developments in Afghanistan and other
regional issues. They also discussed bilateral cooperation in multilateral
forums such as UN, G-20 and GCC. EAM congratulated Saudi Arabia on its
successful Presidency of G-20 last year despite the Covid-19 pandemic.

EAM appreciated Saudi Arabia for the support provided to the Indian community
during the Covid-19 pandemic and urged Saudi Arabia to further relax
restrictions on travel from India.