Manmohan reaches S Arabia on 3-day visit

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrived in Saudi Arabia on Saturday on the first visit by an Indian premier to the kingdom in 28 years, with an aim to boost economic ties and defence and security cooperation. He was welcomed by Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz, the official Saudi Press Agency said. Singh was scheduled to hold talks with Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah on bilateral relations, and discuss regional and global issues including Afghanistan, according to Lalitha Reddy, secretary in India's External Affairs Ministry. He has said there was great opportunity for opening new frontiers of cooperation with Saudi Arabia in the areas of security, defense, science and technology, space, human resources development and knowledge-based industries. "The Gulf region is an area of vital importance for India's security and prosperity," said Singh, who was accompanied by several ministers and a 25-member delegation of business leaders. The prime minister also planned to address the Shoura Council, an influential body of Saudi intellectuals, and the Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry. He was also expected to meet members of the Indian community. Apart from being the largest supplier of crude oil, Saudi Arabia is also home to an Indian community numbering at least 1.8 million. Bilateral trade between India and Saudi Arabia during 2008-09 was more than $25 billion.