Saudi- Modi inquires about king's health

(MENAFN- Arab News) Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi telephoned Crown Prince Salman deputy premier and minister of defense on Saturday and inquired about the health of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah.The crown prince 'reassured' Modi about the health of King Abdullah thanking him for his noble gestures and get-well message said the official Saudi Press Agency.The Indian premier also conveyed his best wishes to Crown Prince Salman for discharge of his current duties and national responsibilities.King Abdullah is recuperating in a city hospital. 'The king is fondly remembered in India where he attended the Republic Day parade as a chief guest in 2006' said Hifzur Rahman spokesman of the Embassy of India on Sunday.'The visit of King Abdullah to India was the highest point in the bilateral ties that transformed relations to strategic level' said Hifzur Rahman while referring to the first-time bilateral meeting which Crown Prince Salman and Modi also had in November last year. During the bilateral talks held on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Australia Crown Prince Salman said his country was ready to cooperate with India in all fields.'Moreover the visit by Crown Prince Salman to India early last year provided fresh impetus to the ties and led to the signing of the defense pact' said Hifzur Rahman. He said that 'India cherishes its cordial and friendly relations with Saudi Arabia which are deep-rooted in history and based on the foundation of close people-to-people contacts.' 'With the diaspora outreach being a key element of the Indian government's policy the Gulf states are a priority for the government' said Hifzur Rahman. Modi may visit Gulf states in 2015. In fact Syed Akbaruddin spokesman of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said recently that no schedule has been finalized 'but the choice of visit could be more than one country as and when Modi makes the trip.'