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Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded a State Visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on April 22, 2025, at the invitation of Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, an official press release by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated.
The visit marked another milestone in the expanding strategic relationship between the two nations. This was Prime Minister Modi's third visit to the Kingdom and followed the historic September 2023 visit of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to India, where he participated in the G20 Summit and co-chaired the first meeting of the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council. The current visit built on that momentum, with both sides reaffirming their shared vision for a more robust partnership. A key area of focus during the talks was climate cooperation. Both countries reiterated their commitment to the principles of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement. They underlined the need for climate policies that focus on emissions reduction rather than the energy sources used. The Indian delegation commended Saudi Arabia for launching the "Saudi Green Initiative" and the "Middle East Green Initiative" and extended its support for the Kingdom's environmental efforts. Both sides also stressed the need for joint collaboration in applying the principles of the circular carbon economy to effectively manage emissions and meet climate targets. In recognition of India's growing role in global climate leadership, Saudi Arabia appreciated India's pioneering initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance, the One Sun-One World-One Grid campaign, the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), Mission Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE), and the Global Green Credit Initiative. Security cooperation was another major pillar of the discussions. Both sides acknowledged the progress made in recent years and emphasised its significance for regional and global stability. They underscored the importance of enhancing bilateral efforts in areas such as cybersecurity, maritime border protection, combating transnational crime, and countering narcotics and drug trafficking, the press release stated. The joint statement at the conclusion of the visit reflected the growing convergence between India and Saudi Arabia on key global challenges and reaffirmed their commitment to working together for a secure, sustainable, and mutually beneficial future. (ANI)
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