PM Modi stresses on need for balanced approach to resolve conflicts in West Asia

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stressed on the need for a balanced approach to resolve the conflicts in West Asia, while respecting the principles of sovereignty and non-interference in each other’s internal matters. He said, India shares excellent bilateral relations with all the countries in the region and a very large Indian diaspora reside in the region. 

Prime Minister, who is on a day-long visit to Saudi Arabia told Arab News that a dialogue process that encourages the participation of all stakeholders is important to bring peace and security in this region.

He said, neighborhood first continues to be the guiding vision for his government’s foreign policy and India’s relations with Saudi Arabia are one of the most important bilateral relationships in New Delhi’s extended neighborhood. The Prime Minister expressed confidence that under the leadership of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, bilateral relations between India and Saudi Arabia will only grow stronger. Saying stable oil prices are



crucial for the growth of the global economy, Mr. Modi praised the Kingdom’s role as an important and reliable source of India’s energy requirements. 

The Prime Minister also said that India has undertaken many reforms to create a business-friendly environment and to ensure that it remains a major driver of global growth and stability.

Mr. Modi said during this visit the two countries are going to sign an agreement on a Strategic Partnership Council, which will begin a new era of cooperation across sectors. He said Asian powers like India and Saudi Arabia share similar security concerns in their neighbourhood and in that respect, the two nations' cooperation particularly in the field of counter-terrorism, security and strategic issues, is progressing very well. He added that New Delhi and Riyadh are also in the process of entering into agreements on security cooperation, collaboration in defence industries, and also agreed to hold a comprehensive security dialogue mechanism between the two countries.