The Hindu : International / India & World : `India keen on closer ties with West Asia'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jun 15, 2004

International

International - India & World

`India keen on closer ties with West Asia'

By Atul Aneja

MANAMA, JUNE 14. India is focusing on building a closer relationship with West Asia and the newly-elected Government has begun to take concrete steps in that direction, the Minister of State for External Affairs, E. Ahamed, has said.

Mr. Ahamed, who is on a visit to Saudi Arabia told The Hindu over telephone from Jeddah that the United Progressive Alliance Government was fully aware of the importance of building a multi-faceted relationship with the region. He said that India could ill-afford to ignore a region with a population of 1.3 billion, and, with which, cordial relations had existed for centuries. Mr. Ahamed was received by Saudi Arabia's King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz on his arrival, marking the new Government's first high-level contact with Saudi Arabia.

During their meeting, Mr. Ahamed handed over to the Saudi monarch, a letter from the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh.

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