Riyadh, Muharram 24, 1436, Nov 17, 2014, SPA -- The beginning of the US-Saudi relations dates back to 1931, when the late King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud granted the right to explore for oil in the kingdom to a US company. It was followed by the signing of the cooperation agreement between the two countries in 1933. The US-Saudi relations were further boosted by a meeting between King Abdulaziz and US President Franklin Roosevelt in 1945. They evolved over the years to a strategic alliance strengthening relations between the two countries in various fields. The current visit by Prince Miteb bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, Minister of the National Guard, to the United States of America is in response to an invitation by US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel. It comes in the framework of strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries, which has been flourishing over more than 80 years, during which they have witnessed identical views on many of the issues that serve the interests of the two countries. --More 14:16 LOCAL TIME 11:16 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w