Article Posted on : - Feb 27, 2014

NEW DELHI (PTI): Reflecting growing congruence in bilateral ties, India and Saudi Arabia have inked a defence cooperation pact to take their strategic partnership further in areas of security.

The pact was signed following talks between Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Vice President Hamid Ansari on Wednesday during which a range of bilateral, regional and international issues figured.

The defence cooperation pact will allow exchange of defence-related information, military training and education as well as cooperation in areas varying from hydrography and security to logistics.

Earlier, signalling importance of the visit, the Vice President went to the airport to receive the Crown Prince who is on a three-day visit to New Delhi.

It is highest level political visit to India from Saudi Arabia after the landmark visit of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in January 2006.

Al Saud, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, will meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Defence Minister A K Antony and External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid. The Crown Prince will also call on President Pranab Mukherjee.