• Source:JND
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Jeddah: As a special gesture, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's aircraft was escorted by F15s of the Royal Saudi Air Force in Saudi Arabia's airspace in Jeddah. PM Modi is expected to land shortly in Jeddah on his two-day visit to the Gulf Nation. PM Narendra Modi is on a two-day State visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This is PM's third visit to Saudi Arabia and his first visit to Jeddah.

In a post on X, the Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs said, "PM Narendra Modi has departed for a two-day State visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This is the PM's third visit to Saudi Arabia. PM Narendra Modi, along with Crown Prince & PM of Saudi Arabia, HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman, will co-chair the 2nd Leaders' Meeting of the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council. Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday.

PM Modi's Saudi Arabia visit

PM Modi is visiting Saudi Arabia from April 22 to 23 at the invitation of the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman. Since 2014, PM Modi has transformed the trajectory of India's relations with Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries. This will be PM Modi's third visit to the country, following earlier visits in 2016 and 2019. This also marks his 15th visit to a country in the Gulf region.

"Today, I embark on a two-day State visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at the invitation of Crown Prince and Prime Minister, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman," he said in a pre-departure statement. India deeply values its long and historic ties with Saudi Arabia, which have acquired strategic depth and momentum in recent years. Together, we have developed a mutually beneficial and substantive partnership in the domains of defence, trade, investment, energy and people-to-people ties. We have shared interest and commitment to promote regional peace, prosperity, security and stability," he added. 

Why PM Modi's Saudi Arabia visit is important

The MEA stated that the visit of Prime Minister Modi reflects the importance India attaches to its bilateral relationship with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and it will provide an opportunity to further deepen and strengthen the multi-faceted partnership, as well as to exchange views on various regional and international issues of mutual interest.

With 'Neighbourhood First' continuing to be the guiding vision for the Modi government's foreign policy, the Prime Minister has mentioned before how India's relations with Saudi Arabia are one of the most important bilateral relationships in the extended neighbourhood.

(With inputs from agency)

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