Deputy Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, second deputy premier and minister of defense, holds talks with Vladimir Yevtoshkov, co-chairman of the Russian-Saudi Business Council (RSBC) in St Petersburg on Thursday. — SPA Khaled Tashkandi Okaz/Saudi Gazette JEDDAH – The entire gamut of bilateral relations between Saudi Arabia and Russia, especially in political and business fields, have received a shot in the arm with the visit of Deputy Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, second deputy premier and minister of defense, to Russia, according to Vladimir Yevtoshkov, co-chairman of the Russian Saudi Business Council (RSBC). In an interview with Okaz/Saudi Gazette, he said the meeting of Prince Muhammad with the Russian President Vladimir Putin was historic and was of extreme significance as it was the first visit of its kind after the change of rule in the Kingdom. He hoped that the visit would have concrete results in further bolstering historic bilateral relations. Deputy Crown Prince Mohammad, who is also chairman of the Saudi Council of Economic and Development Affairs, held wide-ranging talks with Yevtoshkov during the visit. “We reviewed the efforts of the RSBC in enhancing trade exchanges and investment in all fields between the Kingdom and Russia. Several landmark pacts were signed in business and other vital sectors during the visit and we are hopeful of its very good outcome in future,” he said. Yevtoshkov said a large number of prominent Saudi businessmen came to attend the forum of the Council. “We thank the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) for its gigantic efforts in organizing this great event. Several Russian businessmen from various parts of the country participated in the forum and they are keen to develop business relations with their Saudi counterparts,” he said. According to Yevtoshkov, the trade exchange between the two countries would witness remarkable growth in future. “The Council believes that there are great prospects in enhancing cooperation in various vital fields such as oil, gas, petrochemicals, petroleum services, agriculture, food, halal products, health services, telecom, construction and building, and contracting sectors. There is also scope for a surge in export of Russian products to the Kingdom, in addition to benefiting from the tourism and Umrah services,” he said, adding that all these are promising areas of cooperation and investments for both parties in future. Referring to the developments in the Middle East region, Yevtoshkov said this won't have any negative impact on the fast growing relations between the two countries. “The relations between Saudi Arabia and Russia are excellent and there is a promising future despite these developments. An improvement in business ties is important as businesses would spur economic growth, and hence it is essential to safeguard these ties in a way serving the interests of both the countries,” he noted.
