New Delhi, India — Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was warmly received by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhawan on Monday. This marks the Crown Prince’s second state visit to India; his first was in February 2019.
During the reception, the Crown Prince emphasized the deep-rooted relationship between Saudi Arabia and India. “The relationship between us is in our DNA in Saudi Arabia. India has been instrumental in helping us build Saudi Arabia over the past 70 years,” he said.
The Crown Prince further stated that the visit aims to “highlight the Saudi work done here in India and ensure that our relationship is maintained and improved for the sake of both countries.” He expressed confidence that under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, the bilateral ties would strengthen further.
The Saudi Arabian Prime Minister is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Modi at Hyderabad House later in the day, where they are expected to sign the minutes of the first meeting of the India-Saudi Strategic Partnership Council.
The Ministry of External Affairs had earlier announced that the Crown Prince would extend his stay in India following the G20 Summit, which India was hosted on September 9-10.
After his meeting with Prime Minister Modi, the Crown Prince is slated to meet President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhawan at around 6:30 p.m. He is expected to depart from New Delhi around 8:30 p.m.
The visit comes on the heels of a historic agreement announced on Saturday to launch a mega India-Middle East-Europe shipping and railway connectivity corridor. The ambitious project was unveiled by Prime Minister Modi, flanked by U.S. President Joe Biden, Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed bin Salman, and leaders of the European Union, on the sidelines of the G20 Summit.
The Crown Prince’s visit underscores the growing importance of the India-Saudi relationship, not just bilaterally but also in the context of broader regional and global initiatives.