“Relationship with India top priority…” Saudi Arabia Foreign Minister

Saudi Arabia Foreign Minister Farhan Al-Saud said that the relationship between the two countries has grown exponentially, adding that there is a need for measurable progress in all sectors, particularly the economic and trade relationship.

The minister emphasised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s strong relationship, saying that both leaders want to see actual results and progress in the countries’ relationship.

“The relationship with India is a top priority and we need to have measurable progress in all sectors especially the economic and trade relationship,” the Saudi Foreign Minister said in an interview with President of Observer Research Foundation (ORF) Samir Saran at Raisina ‘Ideas Pod’.

According to Al-Saud, the relationship between India and Saudi Arabia has grown exponentially in the last five years.

“Part of that is the very strong relationship between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Crown Prince who have a very strong working relationship. Both of them are very similar in the sense that they both are very result oriented. They don’t want just a nice talk, they want to see actual results, they want to see progress and that means that we in the government have a very clear direction,” he said while defining the similarities between both the leaders who believe in action.

He emphasised India’s rising global stature, saying,  “India is a fantastically dynamic country with huge potential and we’ve seen that especially in the last five years, the trajectory for India is fantastic. The potential that India holds is almost unmeasurable.”

Recognizing that India has played an important role in the Kingdom’s developmental journey for several decades due to the large Indian diaspora in Saudi Arabia, he stated,  “The connection has existed even before that, you know hundreds of years given the trade relationship. We’re now building on that connection, on that relationship in a way that is not just benefiting both of us, it’s really benefiting the international Community.”

He also stated that India’s vast size offers enormous potential, as much of India’s trade with Europe passes through the Red Sea.

“We are of course India’s most important energy partner as that’s the case for traditional energies but we’re also looking to continue that into the renewable era,” he added.

Earlier, Saleh Eid Al Husseini, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to India, stated that he wants to take this relationship to the next level. Speaking at the celebrations of the Kingdom’s founding day here, the envoy expressed gratitude for the two countries’ strong and friendly relationship.

Underlining the strong relationship between the Kingdom and India, Husseini said,  “We are very happy to have a strong relationship with our friendly country India. Also for a long time, we have had this relationship and we have been asked to bring this relationship to the highest level that we can.”

During his speech at the foundation day celebration, the envoy emphasised the Kingdom’s governance and how the youth have been the Kingdom’s focus as the next generation.

“We are very proud to have a country that started in 1727 and this year as I said reflects good governance and we hold our future, our children and all our Saudi Arabia is now focussing on youth on the next generation”, said the Envoy.

“Our country is celebrating around 300 years and this reflects nations’ governance, reflects equity, to have the prosperity of their people. To bring modernization and at the same time to regain the culture of the society. It’s not by chance to be 300 years old unless the state is caring about its neighbours, caring about its people, seeking peace all over the world”, added the envoy.