 "'India values historic relations with Saudi Arabia': PM Modi emplanes for Jeddah for 2-day visit. Image/X/ @MEAIndia")
Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarked for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday for a two-day official visit at the invitation of Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman.
This is PM Modi’s third visit to Saudi Arabia, following trips in 2016 and 2019, and his 15th visit to a Gulf country since 2014. Before him, all Indian Prime Ministers combined had visited Saudi Arabia only three times in 70 years.
In a statement before departure, PM Modi said India deeply values its strong ties with Saudi Arabia, which have grown in areas like defence, trade, energy, and people-to-people connections. He called Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman his “brother” and said he looks forward to attending the second Strategic Partnership Council meeting and visiting the historic city of Jeddah for the first time.
PM Modi also said he was excited to meet the Indian community in Saudi Arabia and plans to visit a factory employing Indian workers during his stay.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said the visit would include discussions on key global and regional issues, including the Israel-Palestine conflict and maritime threats from Houthi attacks in West Asia.