PM Modi praises Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman ahead of his 2-day visit: 'Every time I have met him...'
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has embarked on a two-day trip to Saudi Arabia, called the Kingdom "a trusted friend and strategic ally" while hailing the "limitless potential" of India’s growing ties with Saudi Arabia.
The Prime Minister, in an exclusive interview with Arab News, praised Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, describing how the latter left an indelible impression every time they met. "Every time I have met him, His Royal Highness has left a deep impression on me. His insights, his forward-thinking vision, and his passion for fulfilling the aspirations of his people are truly remarkable," Modi said, calling bin Salman a strong advocate of bilateral ties between the countries.
This is the seventh visit of an Indian premier to the Kingdom. Jawaharlal Nehru visited in 1955, followed by Indira Gandhi more than a quarter-century later in 1982. Before Modi, Manmohan Singh visited Saudi in 2010 after a gap of 28 years. However, marking a shift in foreign policy, Modi has visited the kingdom thrice, in 2016 and 2019.
These visits also marked the changes in India’s foreign policy strategy, with regard to the kingdom. Despite strong people-to-people links between the countries, India has kept a distance from the kingdom, due to its ideological stance and closeness with Pakistan. That changed with the Modi-led BJP coming to power.
Modi said that the Kingdom underwent great social and economic transformations under him. "The reforms he has undertaken have not just inspired the region, but also caught the attention of the entire world. One can see the transformational changes in the country under Vision 2030 in a very short period," he said.
On the personal rapport they shared, Modi said he valued his relationship with the Crown Prince and hailed Jeddah's connection with India. "The personal rapport has naturally translated into how both countries give priority to our partnership. He is a strong advocate of our bilateral ties. He has been a great supporter of the Indian diaspora in Saudi Arabia and our people living in Saudi Arabia deeply admire him," he said.
The Prime Minister spoke about Jeddah's past connection with India and how Indian pilgrims thronged the streets there for centuries. "This famed city has been one of the principal arteries for our trade and people-to-people exchanges. As a gateway to Makkah, for ages, our pilgrims have walked the by-lanes of Jeddah on their holy journey for Hajj and Umrah," he told Arab News.
Modi said the Indian diaspora in Saudi too was grateful to the ruling royals for their patronage. "We can never forget how they took care of the Indians as one of their own during the difficult times of the COVID pandemic," the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister also narrated how the Crown Prince praised the Indian community and their contributions towards the economic growth of the Kingdom. "He has even said that they are part of the Saudi family. These words of praise always fill my heart with pride and joy," said Modi.
Middle East