Headlines
Saudi king Salman is friend of India, says Indian diplomat
Riyadh, Jan 30
India is looking forward to
having stronger relations with Saudi Arabia under the leadership of King
Salman, who is a friend of India like King Abdullah, said Indian Consul
General B.S. Mubarak.
"Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi held
talks with King Salman on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Brisbane,
Australia. During that meeting, the Saudi ruler expressed his desire to
expand cooperation with India in all sectors," Arab News quoted Mubarak,
consul general for Jeddah, as saying.
"It was like an open
invitation for Indians and we hope that bilateral relations will become
stronger in the coming years," the Indian diplomat said.
Mubarak
said New Delhi was extremely happy over the quick and smooth transition
in the country, following the death of King Abdullah last week.
King Abdullah had very special relations with India, the consul general noted.
"India
was one of the first countries he visited after becoming the king in
2005. King Salman has also maintained a special relationship with India.
He visited India last February (2014) heading a high-level delegation
including business leaders."
He said Prime Minister Modi sent a
high-level delegation comprising 18 members on a special flight under
the leadership of Vice President Hamid Ansari to take part in King
Abdullah's funeral, despite US President Barack Obama's visit to India
to be chief guest in the Republic Day celebrations.