At the outset, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosquesdelivered the following speech:
In the name of Allah the Merciful, the Compassionate,
President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation,
I welcome you to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, appreciatingyour acceptance of the invitation and wishing you and your accompanyingdelegation a pleasant stay, praising the distinguished relations between ourtwo friendly countries, in various fields, as we look forward to strengtheningthem, in all fields.
This visit and discussions with your Excellency and amongofficials from both countries are a great opportunity to strengthen and deepenthe bonds of friendship and ties between the two countries, to achieve aconvergence of views and political positions.
Your Excellency,
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia appreciates the active role of the Russian Federation in the region and the world. We look forward to working with Your Excellency on everything that will bring security, stability and peace, confront extremism and terrorism and promote economic growth.
The joint investment and trade opportunities between the twocountries through the signing of several agreements, especially in the field ofenergy, will have great positive results on the interests of our countries andpeoples.
Reaffirming our support for the investment cooperation between the two countries through the Public Investment Fund and the Russian Direct Investment Fund, we welcome investment of the two funds in more than thirty investment projects, so far, and stressing the important role of the first meeting of the Saudi-Russian Economic Committee, to be held during the visit, that we support.
