Saudi crown prince on landmark India visit

Saudi Crown Prince Salman bin Abdel Aziz arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday part of a three-day landmark visit that is expected to boost ties between India and Saudi Arabia.

Upon arrival, Prince Salman expressed in a news conference that the visit comes within a framework set by King Abdullah to “consolidate cooperation between the two countries in all fields,” the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

He noted that the visit aims to boost coordination between the kingdom and India over regional and international issues of common concern, SPA added.

Prince Salman was received by Indian vice President Mohammed Hamid Ansari. He will also be meeting President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

His visit marks the first highest level political visit from Saudi Arabia to India after the 2006 landmark trip by King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

This visit is expected to witness the signing of a series of agreements between the two countries, local media reported.

Saudi Arabia views India as an attractive investment hub for its businesses in Asia.

About 2.88 million Indian nationals work in Saudi Arabia, making up the largest expatriate community in the kingdom.

Bilateral trade between both countries have is estimated at $43 billion in 2012-13.