India, Saudi Arabia to hold talks on regional and global issues

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will hold extensive talks with her Saudi Arabian counterpart Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir in New Delhi today during which they will discuss entire gamut of bilateral ties besides regional and global issues of mutual interests. The Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister is on a two day-visit to India on the invitation of Mrs Swaraj. 

The External Affairs Ministry said, during the visit, the two ministers will also discuss ways to ramp up trade trade ties, besides exploring new areas of cooperation are likely to figure in talks between



the two leaders. It said, the two leaders will also deliberate on the situation in West Asia.

Saudi Arabia is India's largest crude oil supplier accounting for about one-fifth of the country's total imports. The Gulf nation is India's fourth largest trading partner with bilateral trade reaching 40 billion US dollars in 2014-15.

Indians are the largest expatriate community in Saudi Arabia whose contribution in the progress and development of the country is well recognized. There are over 2.96 million Indians currently working in Saudi Arabia.