Sushma Swaraj Leaves for India After 3-Day Visit to Saudi Arabia
During the 3-day visit, Swaraj met with the Saudi leadership and discussed bilateral, regional & global issues.
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Concluding her three-day trip in Saudi Arabia, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj met with the Minister of National Guards Prince Khalid bin Abdulaziz bin Ayyaf Al Muqrin in Riyadh on Thursday, 8 February.
Earlier, the External Affairs Minister met Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz who inaugurated the prestigious annual National Heritage and Culture Festival 'Janadriyah'.
Speaking at the inaugural function, Sushma Swaraj thanked Saudi Arabia for according the honour and recalled the landmark visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Kingdom in April 2016 which "gave a strong impetus to the bilateral partnership."
During her visit, Swaraj also held bilateral discussions with the Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Jubeir and discussed a wide range of bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest.
The Minister also addressed a large gathering of Indian community on 6 February.
Swaraj met with members of the Bohra community and Saudi Oger workers on the last day of her trip and embarked on her journey back home.
- Concluding her 3-day trip, EAM Sushma Swaraj left for India on 8 February
- EAM Sushma Swaraj represented India as the guest of honour country at the inauguration of the prestigious National Heritage and Culture Festival ‘Janadriyah’
- Swaraj met her Saudi Arabia counterpart Adel al-Jubeir and discussed ways to enhance bilateral trade, energy, defence and security ties
- The Minister also addressed a large gathering of Indian community on 6 February.
- She was on a three-day visit to the Gulf kingdom to discuss bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest.
Swaraj Leaves For India After 3-Day Saudi Visit
After Sushma Swaraj’s three-day visit to the Gulf Kingdom concluded on 8 February, the EAM minister left for India. During her three days, the minister inaugurated the prestigious Janadariya Festival, and held meetings with the King, the Finance Minister and addressed the Indian diaspora at a community gathering in Riyadh.
Swaraj on The Last Leg of Her Saudi Trip
On the last day of her trip, Sushma Swaraj met with members of Bohra community and Saudi Oger workers.
Sushma Swaraj also met and interacted with the Minister of National Guards Prince Khalid bin Abdulaziz bin Ayyaf Al Muqrin in Riyadh on Thursday, 8 February.
Swaraj Meets Saudi King, Inaugurates Janadriyah Festival
King Salman in the presence of Swaraj inaugurated the festival which exhibits Saudi Arabia's rich tapestry of culture and heritage and is organised by the National Guard.
Speaking at the inaugural function, Swaraj thanked Saudi Arabia for according the 'Guest of Honour' status to India at the Janadriyah festival, an official statement said.
She recalled the landmark visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Saudi Arabia in April 2016 which gave strong impetus to the bilateral partnership, it said.
Swaraj added that the festival provides an opportunity to showcase and further build upon this relationship, the statement said.
Showcasing the core values and traditions of India, the India Pavilion mounted on the occasion is based on the theme "Saudi ka Dost Bharat", the official statement said.
Swaraj Visits Indian Pavilion at Janadriyah Festival With Saudi King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj arrived at the Indian pavilion at Janadriyah festival in Riyadh along with her Saudi counterpart Adel al-Jubeir.
Swaraj will inaugurate Al Janadria, the national cultural festival of Saudi Arabia as the 'Guest of Honour' on 7 February.
Sushma Swaraj Enjoys Camel Race in Maiden Saudi Visit
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj who is on a three-day visit to Saudi Arabia was seen enjoying a camel race in Riyadh with the top Saudi leadership, reported ANI.
Swaraj who met her Saudi counterpart Adel al-Jubeir will inaugurate Al Janadria, the national cultural festival of Saudi Arabia as the 'Guest of Honour' on 7 February.
Swaraj, who arrived on her maiden visit to Saudi Arabia, called on King Salman.
They discussed steps to further intensify the bilateral strategic partnership in all sectors and to work towards each other's progress.
Swaraj Meets Saudi Counterpart Adel al-Jubeir
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday, 7 February met her Saudi Arabia counterpart Adel al-Jubeir and discussed ways to enhance bilateral trade, energy, defence and security ties.
"EAM @SushmaSwaraj met Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia Adel Jubeir & had an engaging discussion on deepening our strategic relationship," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.
He said the discussions between the two leaders focused on enhancing trade and investment, energy, defence and security, culture and people-to-people ties.
She called for taking the strategic partnership to a higher level and in a variety of sectors, it said.
Swaraj said that India's flagship programmes including 'Make in India' and 'Digital India' complement well with 'Vision 2030' launched by Saudi Arabia and invited Saudi investments in India,
The two leaders also discussed the regional and global situation, Kumar said.
Swaraj will also inaugurate the prestigious National Heritage and Culture Festival 'Janadriyah', at which India is the guest of honour country. The festival, organised by the National Guard, exhibits Saudi Arabia's rich tapestry of culture and heritage.
Swaraj thanked the Saudi government for according the 'Guest of Honour' status to India at the Janadriyah festival.
Sushma Swaraj to Inaugurate Saudi National Cultural Festival On 7 Feb
Al Janadria, the national cultural festival of Saudi Arabia that has India as the 'Guest of Honour' country this year, will be inaugurated by the minister on 7 February.
2018 marks the 32nd edition of the festival. The festival which began in 1985 is organised every year by the Saudi National Guard and highlights Saudi Arabia's national heritage.
The FICCI members are the Industry and Execution partner for the Indian pavilion at the Janadria festival named after the place outside the national capital, where it is held.
The India pavilion will provide glimpses of traditional and modern India. The Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) is sending nine different cultural troupes for the cultural performances which include Kathakali, Kalariyaptu, Kathak, Manipuri and others. There will be cultural performances during evenings in this 18-day festival, Singh said.
A number of Indian companies including Larsen and Toubro, Tata Motors, Jet Airways, Shapoorji Pallonji etc are also putting up their stalls in the India pavilion, he added.
Sushma Swaraj Addresses Indian Diaspora in Saudi Arabia's Riyadh
After her arrival on 6 February, Swaraj in her first engagement addressed Indian community members at a reception in Riyadh and spoke about the relations between the two countries.
"Indian Embassy – home away from home for Indian diaspora, EAM @SushmaSwaraj while addressing enthusiastic Indian community members at a reception in #Riyadh. First engagement on her visit to Saudi Arabia. #IndiaAtJanadriya," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.
"EAM spoke in length the growing relations between the two countries," Kumar said.
Swaraj thanked the Indian community for the good will it has earned for the country and lauded the Indian embassy for its promptness.
"EAM thanked all the pravasis for the good will they have earned for themselves and the country," Kumar said.
"EAM praised the Indian Embassy for responding to the Indian Community promptly," he said in a tweet.
The minister hailed PM Modi’s 2016 visit to the Gulf kingdom as a strong visit that provided the much needed impetus to growth of relations between both the countries.
(With PTI, IANS inputs)
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