Sushma Swaraj meets Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj met Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz in Riyadh yesterday. In a tweet, External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, they discussed steps to further intensify the bilateral strategic partnership in all sectors and to work towards each other's progress.

Later, King Salman inaugurated the prestigious National Heritage and Culture Festival 'Janadriyah' in the presence of Mrs Swaraj, at which India is the guest of honour country.It was for the first time that India was accorded the status of ‘Guest of Honour’ at the festival which exhibits Saudi Arabia's rich tapestry of culture and heritage.

The India Pavilion mounted on the occasion is based on the theme 'Saudi ka Dost Bharat', showcasing the core values



and traditions of India.Speaking at the inaugural function, the External Affairs Minister thanked Saudi Arabia for according the 'Guest of Honour' status to India at the Janadriyah festival.She recalled the landmark visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Saudi Arabia in April 2016 which gave strong impetus to the bilateral partnership.

Mrs Swaraj added that the festival provides an opportunity to showcase and further build upon this relationship.The Indian Pavilion presents a kaleidoscope of country's vibrant culture through a colourful dance and music extravaganza. The different sections display various themes Yoga, Ayurveda, textiles and tourism, the digital revolution, as well as Flagship programmes like Digital India’ and Make in India.