Riyadh, Oct 14, 2019, SPA -- The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud held official talks with the Russian President Vladimir Putin, in the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense. At the outset, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques delivered 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, appreciating your acceptance of the invitation and wishing you and your accompanying delegation a pleasant stay, praising the distinguished relations between our two friendly countries, in various fields, as we look forward to strengthening them, in all fields. This visit and discussions with your Excellency and among officials from both countries are a great opportunity to strengthen and deepen the bonds of friendship and ties between the two countries, to achieve a convergence 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 two countries through the signing of several agreements, especially in the field of energy, will have great positive results on the interests of our countries and peoples. 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. We reiterate welcoming you, Mr. President. --more 17:50 LOCAL TIME 14:50 GMT 0021 www.spa.gov.sa/w1190681