Saudi King Salman walks with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi during an official welcoming ceremony in Riyadh. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday reiterated their resolve to achieve strategic partnership in the entire gamut of bilateral relations between the two countries.

In a meeting held at al-Yamamah Palace here, the two leaders also vowed to further enhance cooperation and coordination in combating terror as well as in bolstering ties in security and defense fields, besides boosting intra-investments. Several cooperation agreements and memoranda of understanding between the two countries were also signed in the presence of King Salman and the Indian premier.

At the outset of the meeting, the King welcomed Modi and the accompanying high-ranking delegation to Saudi Arabia, saying: “Your visit reflects the depth of relations between our friendly countries and peoples. We applaud the economic growth achieved by your country, and look forward to further strengthening the relations and develop it in all spheres, especially the cooperation in the fields of trade, investment, energy and technology, and increase trade exchange between our countries,” the King said.

King Salman appreciated India’s interest in the affairs of the region and its keenness in supporting the stability of the states in the region. The King hoped that the global efforts to solve the Syrian crisis on the basis of Geneva I resolutions would be fruitful, and that the peace and security would prevail in Yemen and the UN sponsored peace talks would help find a political solution on the basis of the Security Council Resolution 2216.

Before his official talks with King Salman, Prime Minister Modi was accorded an official welcome at the Royal Court where national anthems of the two countries were played.

King Salman and Modi later attended the signing ceremony of a cooperation agreement, two cooperation programs, an executive program and a draft memorandum of understanding between the two governments in the fields of investment promotion, standardization, hiring labor, handicrafts, and exchanging intelligence information on money laundering and terrorism financing.

The cooperation program for promoting investments between Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) and Indian Investment Authority was signed. SAGIA was represented by Prince Saud Bin Khaled Al-Faisal, executive chairman for systems and investment policies at SAGIA, in inking the deal while the Indian side was represented by Amar Sinha, undersecretary for economic relations at the Ministry of External Affairs.

The cooperation program in the fields of standardization was signed by Saud Al-Askar, deputy governor of Saudi Standards, Quality and Metrology Organization, and Ahmed Javed, Indian ambassador to Saudi Arabia.

The cooperation agreement in hiring general labors was inked by Ziyad al-Sayegh, undersecretary for international labor at the Ministry of Labor and Ahmed Javed, ambassador of India. An executive cooperation program in the field of handicrafts, and a memorandum of understanding for cooperation with regard to exchanging intelligence information on money laundering and terrorism financing were also signed.

India’s ties with Saudi Arabia have been on an upswing over the last two decades based on burgeoning energy ties.

Both sides are keen on expanding the economic ties in a range of areas besides the oil sector.

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