PM on Saudi visit; to sign extradition treaty, other pacts

New Delhi, Feb 27 (PTI) Amid his keenness to impart
"strategic character" to India-Saudi Arabia ties, India's
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Saturday embarked on a visit to
Riyadh during which the two sides will sign an Extradition
Treaty and a number of other pacts.

During the three-day trip, the first by an Indian Prime
Minister in 28 years, Singh will hold talks with King Abdullah
bin Abdulaziz Al Saud on a range of bilateral issues with a
focus on opening "new frontiers" of cooperation in various
areas including security and defence.
Noting that his visit carries a "special significance",
he said in a departure statement that India and Saudi Arabia
have much to gain by cooperating with each other in combating
extremism and terrorism.
Singh said he would discuss with the Saudi King the
situation in Afghanistan and other regional issues and ways in
which "we promote greater stability and security in the region
and impart a strategic character to our relations beyond the
traditional areas of our cooperation".
During the visit, the two sides will sign a number of
pacts including Extradition Treaty, Agreement on Transfer of
Sentenced Prisoners and Agreement on setting up Joint
Investment Fund.
Accompanied by a large delegation of business and
industry leaders, the Prime Minister will also discuss ways of
boosting two-way trade amid his keen interest to see increased
investments from Saudi Arabia especially in the infrastructure
sector. (More) PTI AKK
MRD


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