PM embarks on visit to Saudi Arabia

New Delhi, Feb 27 (PTI) India's Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh embarks on a three-day visit to Saudi Arabia
Saturday with an aim to bolster strategic ties including
defence and security cooperation to promote greater stability
in the region.

An extradition treaty and several other agreements are
likely to be signed during his visit, the first by an Indian
Prime Minister in 28 years, which is packed with a heavy
agenda. Indira Gandhi was the last Prime Minister to visit the
oil-rich Kingdom in 1982.
Noting that his visit carries "special significance",
Singh said in his departure statement that the Gulf region is
an area of vital importance for New Delhi's security and
prosperity.
"There is great scope for opening new frontiers of
cooperation in the areas of security, defence, science and
technology, space, human resources development and knowledge-
based industries," he said.
The Prime Minister said he will hold talks with King
Abdullah on "how we can promote greater stability and security
in the region, and impart a strategic character to our
relations beyond the traditional areas of our cooperation".
(More) PTI MS
MRD


The information contained in this electronic message and any attachments to this
message are intended for the exclusive
use of the addressee(s) and may contain proprietary, confidential or privileged
information. If you are not the intended
recipient, you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail. Please
notify the sender immediately and destroy
all copies of this message and any attachments contained in it.