Thaindian News

New Delhi, April 14 (IANS) India-Saudi bilateral ties received a new boost with Riyadh Governor Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud’s five-day official trip during which he shared New Delhi’s concern about terrorism and laid stress on more economic cooperation between the two countries.
Prince Salman, who belongs to the Saudi royal family, was Wednesday conferred an honorary degree of Doctor of Letters by Jamia Millia Islamia, a leading central university of India, before he left for India’s financial capital Mumbai.

A citation read at the function in the university described Prince Salman as “a world renowned philanthropist, internationally acclaimed statesman and above all a man of high moral fabric and integrity”.

Accepting the degree, the prince underscored the need for deepening educational ties between India and Saudi Arabia.

“India and Saudi Arabia have a historic relationship. There is a need to deepen education ties between both the countries,” said Prince Salman.

Delhi Chief Minister Shila Dikshit who also attended the function said: “This degree will enhance the ties of trade, industry and education between India and Saudi Arabia.”

During his four days in the capital, Prince Salman called on President Pratibha Patil and Vice President Hamid Ansari, and met and held talks with External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna.

He also attended business meets and reiterated the need for more trade cooperation between India and Saudi Arabia that crossed $25 billion mark 2008-09. The two countries have forged a strategic partnership pursuant to the historic visits of King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz to India in 2006, and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Saudi Arabia this year.

Prince Salman held talks with Krishna Tuesday and emphasised Saudi Arabia’s stance against terrorism, sharing India’s concern over the issue. “We condemn the plague of terrorism and we’ll not accept it from any party, whoever it may be,” he told reporters.

“Islam rejects terrorism, killings and causing harm to people. Saudi Arabia’s stand on this issue is very clear.”

Krishna termed India-Saudi relations as “excellent and strong”. “The visit of Prince Salman confirms that,” he said, adding the joint cooperation for peace and stability concerned not just the region but the whole world.

“There are shared positions on a number of Arab and global issues.”

Prince Salman also underscored relations between Saudi Arabia and India and hoped his visit would contribute to strengthening bilateral ties further.

The Riyadh governor headed a high-level delegation, which includes Prince Faisal bin Salman, chairman of Saudi Research and Marketing Group; Riyadh Mayor Prince Abdul Aziz bin Ayyaf Al-Muqrin; and Abdul Rahman Al-Jeraisy, chairman of Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

He also met Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha K. Rahman Khan.

The Saudi leader will fly to the Maldives Thursday, ending his India visit that began Sunday.