Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman are scheduled to engage in talks in Delhi on Monday. This anticipated meeting is expected to result in several significant agreements spanning various sectors, particularly in energy and agriculture.
This marks the second state visit of the Saudi Crown Prince to India since February 2019. While he initially arrived in Delhi for the G20 Summit on September 8, he has extended his stay to accommodate the forthcoming bilateral discussions with PM Modi.
The day's events commence with a ceremonial reception at the historic Rashtrapati Bhavan. Subsequently, a series of high-level interactions are set to take place, aiming to strengthen bilateral relations across multiple dimensions, encompassing aspects such as economy, trade, culture, and defense.
The bilateral meeting between PM Modi and the Saudi Crown Prince at Hyderabad House, a renowned diplomatic venue, will encompass a diverse range of topics. These discussions will span political, security, defense, trade, economic, and cultural spheres.
The leaders are not only tasked with reviewing current cooperation under the Strategic Partnership Council but also with envisioning future collaborative opportunities, facilitated by two crucial ministerial committees. This comprehensive partnership is underscored by the formal signing of the minutes of the inaugural meeting of the India-Saudi Strategic Partnership Council at Hyderabad House.
Later in the evening, the Saudi Crown Prince is scheduled to be received by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. This gathering will provide a platform for dialogue, reaffirming mutual interests, and addressing regional and international matters of concern to both nations.
In an effort to strengthen people-to-people connections, an essential element of India-Saudi Arabia relations, the leaders will explore avenues to enhance cultural exchanges. Additionally, they will acknowledge the significant role played by the Indian diaspora in Saudi Arabia, which comprises a substantial 2.4 million individuals.
The Saudi Crown Prince's visit comes amid a noteworthy milestone in economic cooperation, with bilateral trade reaching an all-time high of $52.75 billion in the fiscal year 2022-23. India and Saudi Arabia hold prominent positions as trading partners for each other, with Riyadh ranking as New Delhi's fourth-largest trading partner and vice versa.
Moreover, in light of the G20 Summit, Saudi Arabia has joined forces with several countries, including India, to initiate a substantial railway and port project. This project aims to streamline the flow of commerce, energy, and data from India across the Middle East to Europe.
The India-Saudi Strategic Partnership Council, established during PM Modi's visit to Saudi Arabia in October 2019, serves as a mechanism for enhancing bilateral ties across diverse domains. The council operates through two ministerial committees focused on various forms of cooperation. These committees address political, security, social, cultural, economic, and investment cooperation, providing a structured framework for deepening collaboration between the two nations.
The first Leaders' Meeting of the council, co-chaired by PM Modi and the Saudi Crown Prince during this visit, signifies a commitment to nurturing this partnership. It encompasses a wide array of bilateral concerns and opportunities for collaborative endeavors, aiming to foster multifaceted relations and envision a future of shared growth, stability, and prosperity through concerted efforts and mutual respect.
