Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz voiced on Monday Saudi Arabia’s appreciation of the role Russia is playing in the region and the world.
During official talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Riyadh, he said: “We look forward to working with Your Excellency on everything that will bring security, stability and peace, confront extremism and terrorism and promote economic growth.”
Putin’s visit, he said, presents a major opportunity to strengthen bonds of friendship.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, attended the Riyadh talks.
Putin, for his part, hailed King Salman’s role in boosting Russian-Saudi cooperation in all fields.
He stressed that his visit to Russia in 2017 bolstered these relations.
“Russia attaches particular importance to the development of friendly, and mutually beneficial ties with Saudi Arabia,” he added.
Putin had arrived in Saudi Arabia earlier on Monday on his first official visit to the Kingdom in 12 years.
He heads a delegation that includes Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and several ministers.
He will visit the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday.
