Daijiworld Media Network - Riyadh
Riyadh, Sep 30: India and Saudi Arabia discussed ways to strengthen parliamentary cooperation and exchanges as well as deepen bilateral ties across various sectors during a meeting between Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Vipul and Shura Council Speaker Abdullah Al Al-Sheikh.
The meeting took place on September 29, with the Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia highlighting the strategic partnership between the two countries and the importance of strengthening parliamentary exchanges.
"Ambassador Mr. Vipul paid a courtesy call on H.E. Dr. Abdullah Al Al-Sheikh, Speaker of the Shura Council, on Sep 29. The strategic partnership between India and Saudi Arabia came up for discussion with particular emphasis on strengthening parliamentary cooperation and exchanges," the embassy said in a post on X.
The two sides discussed ways to enhance bilateral relations in various fields, including cooperation between the Indian Parliament and the Saudi Shura Council. They also exchanged views on issues of mutual interest.
The Shura Council said bilateral relations between Saudi Arabia and India were reviewed during the meeting, along with ways to strengthen cooperation in various areas, particularly parliamentary relations between the two institutions.
The meeting was also attended by Shura Council member and Chairman of the Saudi-Indian Parliamentary Friendship Committee, Major General Dr Abdulrahman Al-Harbi.
The latest engagement is part of a series of high-level interactions between the two countries in recent weeks.
On September 20, Ambassador Vipul met Riyadh Governor Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. The discussions focused on strengthening cooperation in trade, investment, energy, technology, education, culture and people-to-people relations.
The Indian Embassy said the two sides exchanged views on the close and wide-ranging India-Saudi Arabia ties, with particular emphasis on expanding cooperation across these sectors.
Vipul also thanked the Riyadh Governor for the continued support and care extended to the Indian community in Saudi Arabia.
Earlier, on September 10, Vipul met Saudi Arabia's Assistant Minister of Defence Khaled bin Hussain Al Biyari in Riyadh.
The two sides discussed India-Saudi Arabia defence cooperation and exchanged views on regional developments, reaffirming their commitment to further strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries, the Indian Embassy said.
Union Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh also visited Saudi Arabia from September 5 to 8.
During the visit, Singh met Saudi Arabia's Vice Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Mansour Hilal Al Mushaiti and discussed bilateral cooperation in environment and climate action.
Singh also visited an Al Fanar Company labour camp and interacted with Indian workers. He highlighted their contribution to strengthening people-to-people ties between India and Saudi Arabia and reiterated the government's commitment to the welfare of the Indian diaspora, particularly workers abroad.
The minister also met Saudi Arabia's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Climate Envoy Adel al-Jubeir. The two reviewed the state of bilateral relations and discussed cooperation on climate action.