WASHINGTON: US Congressman Keith Ellison met with a visiting delegation from the Shoura Council in the US capital Thursday and took the opportunity to praise King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, for his work in the service of Islam and Muslims across the world. “The efforts of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques in the service of Islam and Muslims and pilgrims is widely admired and appreciated,” the Muslim Congressman said. Describing the King as a “great person”, Ellison lauded the massive construction projects at the holy places enabling pilgrims to “perform their rituals in ease and comfort” along with other development works across Saudi Arabia. “The Kingdom's continual reforms have paved the way for a strong economic environment, ranking the Kingdom alongside the strongest economies in the world,” he said. Ellison described the Shoura Council visit, which began last Friday, as a “unique opportunity to bolster already strong and deep-rooted bilateral relations and exchange views and experience to achieve for both parties more fruitful cooperation in all fields and at all levels”. The Shoura Council delegation, led by the chairman of its Parliamentary Saudi-American Friendship Committee Osama Al-Kurdi, later met with members of the Congress to discuss US-Saudi ties and held a meeting with the Saudi-American Business Council to review the Kingdom's commercial environment and Saudi government to strengthen the economic and investment infrastructure. The delegation's visit to Washington was welcomed by Congressmen, who spoke of the strong relations between the two countries and their long-term strategic partnerships. “The Saudi economy has become a regional and global player of considerable strength,” they said. “American businessmen view the Saudi market as very highly promising for foreign investment.
