Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, Emir of Riyadh region, arrived here Sunday starting his four-day official visit to discuss with Indian President Pratibha Patil international developments and bilateral relations. He was accorded a warm welcome at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi. Indian Minister of State for Railways E. Ahmed and other officials received Prince Salman. Prince Salman is scheduled to meet with President Pratibha Patil, Vice President Hamid Ansari and Indian Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna on Monday. Honorary doctorate He will also address a special gathering held by the Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry. Prince Salman will also visit the Saudi School in New Delhi, and the Jamia Millia Islamia University will confer an honorary doctorate on Prince Salman on Wednesday. According to university president Najib Janj, the doctorate is to be awarded for the Prince's “support for humanitarian and social projects”. “The Kingdom enjoys great respect for its pursuit of a moderate policy, spreading peace, security and stability around the world, and its support for dialogue between religions,” Janj said. “Riyadh and New Delhi are eminently qualified to play a considerable role in promoting dialogue between East and West,” he said. “They both have policies of peace, moderation and promoting peaceful coexistence.” The visit constituted a consolidation of relations the foundation of which were laid during the visit of King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, to India in 2006. Commenting on Prince Salman's visit, Indian State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shashi Tharoor, said that Saudi-Indian ties have been growing since the announcement of the Riyadh Declaration, noting that improving the bilateral relations to the level of strategic partnership that covers all domains will give the chance to go for more “diverse and rich horizons.” During his visit Prince Salman is also scheduled to visit the Taj Mahal before embarking on Thursday on an official one-day visit to the Republic of the Maldives.
