NEW DELHI: Saudi Arabia is working to implement an economic corridor with India and the project requires diligent work to achieve, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said during the joint Saudi-Indian Strategic Partnership Council meeting in New Delhi.
Relations between Saudi Arabia and India are mutually beneficial, and we are working on future opportunities for us both, he said, and was hoping to achieve common goals through the Saudi-Indian Partnership Council.
“The Indian community in Saudi Arabia is part of us and we take care of them as we take care of our citizens,” he said.
The crown prince earlier signed several key agreements with India.
India meanwhile hailed its “strategic” partnership with Saudi Arabia, days after unveiling a major trade and transport route linking Europe, the Middle East and India as part of a broad alliance.
“Together, we made the historic start to establish an economic corridor,” Modi told the Saudi crown prince.
On Saturday, the pair took part alongside other G20 leaders in the unveiling of ambitious plans to create a modern-day Spice Route, boosting trade ties with potentially wide-ranging geopolitical implications.
“This corridor will not only connect the two countries, but economic cooperation, digital connectivity between Asia, West Asia and Europe,” Modi added, in talks following the end of the two-day Group of 20 leaders’ summit he hosted.
India and Saudi Arabia, along with the US, the European Union, the United Arab Emirates and others launched the initiative to link railways, ports, electricity and data networks and hydrogen pipelines.
“As two of the world’s fastest growing economies, our mutual cooperation is important for the peace and stability of the entire region,” Modi added, in footage shown on state broadcasters.
“For India, Saudi Arabia is one of most important strategic partners,” he said.
The crown prince signed several key agreements with India.
He was earlier welcomed with a ceremonial reception at Rastrapati Bhawan in New Delhi. This is the second visit of the Saudi crown prince, who previously went to India in February 2019.
“We are very glad to be in India the relation between India and the Arabian peninsula goes back thousand years of history. The relationship between us is in our DNA in Saudi Arabia. India is our friend, they helped us build Saudi Arabia over the past 70 years. There is a lot of Saudi work in India, helping development,” the crown prince said during the ceremonial reception.
“This trip will highlight the Saudi work done here in India and ensure that our relationship is maintained and improved for the sake of both countries and with the leadership of India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, I am sure this will happen,” he said.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrived at New Delhi’s Palam airbase on Friday to participate in the 18th G20 Leaders’ Summit over the weekend.
India, the US, Saudi Arabia and the European Union announced on Saturday a historic agreement to launch a mega India-Middle East-Europe shipping and railway connectivity corridor.
* With AFP
