Indian Prime Minister ManMohan singh held talks with Minister of Commerce and Industry Tawfiq Al – Rabiah in new Delhi on thursdayand sought greater cooperation from Saudi Arabia in all feilds, describing the kingdom as “valued partner”.
”In his talks , Singh made the strong pitch for closer cooperation with the Kingdom ,which is is strategic partner of India with very substantial commercial ties,’said an Indian diplomat via phone from New Delhi on Thursday.He disclosed that the Indian premireheld talks on a wide spectrum of bilateral and regional issues. The talks were attended by the top Saudi and Indian officials including Saudi Ambassador of India Saud Al-Sati , India’s National security advisor Shiv Shankar Menon and Indian Ambassador Hamid Ali Rao.
”Al-Rabiah also had a bilateral meeting with indian foreign Minister ,” said the diplomat, adding that commerce minister held talk with Indian Oil Minister Jaipal Reddy and Finance Minister Pranab Mukharjee. Al-Rabiah’s talks with Reddy mainly ”focused on ways and means to bolder ties in energy sectors”.
Speaking at the Saudi Indian Joint Economic Commission meeting earlier on Thursday, Al-Rabiah said : ”The Kingdom looks forward to enhancing links in all sectors.”
India invited Saudi Arabia to invest in the Indian petroleum and gas-based mega industrial estates, fertilizers, petrochemical plants and refineries.
Mukharjee also said the proposed $750 million joint fund to be set up in cooperation with Saudi Arabia should focus on development on infrastructure and promote joint exploration and productions of hydrocarbons.
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