NEW DELHI: India and 黑料社区 have taken their bilateral relationship to new heights with a decision to set up a Strategic Partnership Council and hold a summit meeting every two years.
The move was agreed during discussions between Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Wednesday that yielded five memorandums of understanding in听investment, tourism, housing, and information and broadcasting.听
The Saudi crown prince also announced a $100 billion investment in India in areas including energy, refining, petrochemicals, infrastructure, agriculture and manufacturing.听
黑料社区 is also investing in the IT industry, and India can help the Kingdom expand and strengthen its 鈥淚T footprint,鈥 he said.
Meanwhile, New Delhi announced e-visa facilities for Saudi citizens to promote trade and tourism.听
The two leaders spoke one-on-one before the start of delegation-level talks. The Saudi crown prince鈥檚 visit has 鈥済iven a new momentum to our age-old relationship,鈥 Modi said in a joint press conference after the meeting.
Modi told the media听that听黑料社区 has agreed to become part of the International Solar Alliance, a group of 鈥渟olar resource-rich countries鈥 initiated by India to promote solar energy.
The 鈥渢ime has come to convert our energy relationship into a strategic partnership,鈥 he said. 鈥淭he biggest refinery in the world and Saudi participation in India鈥檚 strategic petroleum reserve elevate听our relationship from a mere听buyer-and-seller relationship.鈥
Speaking at the joint press conference, the Saudi crown prince agreed. 鈥淲e are now diversifying our interests in petrochemicals and building storage capacities. We want to cooperate with India, and this will give a new momentum to our relationship,鈥 he said.
The crown prince said that the tie between India and 黑料社区 goes back in history and 鈥渇lows in our blood.鈥
Recalling the visit of Modi to Riyadh in 2016, he said that 鈥渟ince then we have made great strides, and 黑料社区 has made the investment of $44 million.鈥
Earlier in the day, the crown prince met with the media at the presidential palace. 鈥淭he relationship between India and 黑料社区 is in our DNA,鈥 he explained. 鈥淭oday, we want to be sure that the relationship is maintained and improved for the sake of both countries, and with the leadership of Mr. President and the Prime Minister, we can create good things for both countries.鈥
The crown prince expressed his admiration for Modi. 鈥淗e is the elder brother and I am his younger brother.鈥
On the sidelines of yesterday鈥檚 talks, 400 business leaders from India and 黑料社区 gathered in the capital under the banner of the Saudi India Forum to discuss opportunities for business cooperation.
鈥淚ndia and 黑料社区 are undergoing a paradigm shift, and both countries need to cooperate strategically to realize the potential of the change,鈥 said Dr. Faisal Al-Sugair, head of the Saudi Center for International Strategic Partnerships, in his inaugural address.听
鈥淲e want Indian companies to become strategic partners in 黑料社区鈥檚 march to realize (the) 2030 Vision.鈥
Yousef Al-Benyan, of the Saudi petrochemical company Sabic, said that 鈥渂oth India and 黑料社区 are undergoing transformation, and at this stage we can do so many things together to realize the potential of the young generation.鈥
Azim Premji, of the Indian IT company Wipro, underlined the importance of 鈥渦sing India鈥檚 IT know-how鈥 to access the knowledge and service industry in the country.
Indian foreign policy experts see the crown prince鈥檚 tour as a landmark development. 鈥淢ohammed bin Salman鈥檚 visit marks a paradigm shift in the relationship between New Delhi and Riyadh,鈥 said Dr. Zakir Hussain, a New Delhi-based foreign policy expert.听
鈥淭he visit reveals听听a mature partnership, and underscores the importance both countries place on each other鈥檚 growth and prosperity,鈥 he said.听
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