Modi and King Salman shake hands during a welcoming ceremony. PHOTO: AFP
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Saudi Arabia’s King Salman agreed in Riyadh on Sunday to strengthen their cooperation in fighting ‘terrorism’ and to facilitate investments.
"The two leaders expressed strong condemnation of the phenomenon of terrorism in all its forms," said an Indian foreign ministry statement after their talks. They "agreed to enhance cooperation in counter-terrorism operations" and cyber-security, "including prevention of use of cyber space for terrorism, radicalisation and for disturbing social harmony," it added.
Modi's Saudi visit part of push to 'de-hyphenate' India from Pakistan
The two countries signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation in intelligence-sharing on money laundering and terrorism financing, said a statement on the official Saudi Press Agency(SPA).
"We affirm the importance of continued cooperation and coordination with your country's government in the field of fighting terrorism," King Salman told Modi, according to SPA.
Modi arrived in the world's largest crude exporter on Saturday and has held talks with top Saudi officials.
Indian foreign ministry official Shri Mridul Kumar has said ahead of the visit that almost 20% of the South Asian country's crude supplies come from Saudi Arabia and that New Delhi wants to ensure this supply continues.
Modi to visit Saudi Arabia on King Salman's invitation
The Indian foreign ministry statement on Sunday said that "the two leaders expressed satisfaction at their growing bilateral trade in the energy sector."
They agreed "to transform the buyer-seller relationship in the energy sector" to focus "on investment and joint ventures in petrochemical complexes, and cooperation in joint exploration in India, Saudi Arabia and in third countries," it added.
They also discussed regional and international developments, and agreed to bolster defence cooperation and diversify trade. Their investment authorities meanwhile signed a framework agreement to facilitate investments by the private sectors in the two countries.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 4th, 2016.
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