The Saudi Minister of Energy, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, on Monday met with the Principal Secretary of India’s Prime Minister, P.K. Mishra, in Riyadh, reported the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman also met with the CEO of the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog), B.V.R. Subrahmanyam.
During their meeting, they reviewed relations between Saudi Arabia and India and explored ways to further strengthen them across various sectors. Moreover, they discussed ways to bolster coordination on issues of common interest.
Modi’s Visit to Saudi Arabia
The meeting came ahead of India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, official visit to Saudi Arabia, scheduled to start on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, upon the invitation of the Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Salman.
Modi will visit Jeddah, in his first visit to Saudi Arabia’s commercial capital and third visit to the Kingdom, according to the Times of India. The visit aligns with the ongoing efforts to boost bilateral relations. During his two-day trip, Modi will take part in several meetings and sign agreements.
The Indian Prime Minister and the Saudi Crown Prince will co-chair the second meeting of the Saudi-India Strategic Partnership Council. Both leaders are expected to discuss several regional and international issues. The visit will also see the signing of multiple memoranda of understanding (MoUs) covering a wide range of areas, including economy and defense.
Deep Ties
On this occasion, Modi praised the Saudi-Indian ties. “India values our historic relations with Saudi Arabia. Bilateral ties have gained significant momentum in the last decade,” he posted on X.
Furthermore, India’s Prime Minister hailed Saudi-Indian relations. In an interview with Arab News, Modi described Saudi Arabia as “a trusted friend, strategic ally and one of the most valued partners for India,” adding that the partnership between the two countries “has limitless potential.” He also praised the Saudi Crown Prince’s leadership, calling him “a strong advocate of our bilateral ties.”
