HONG KONG, 30 January 2006 — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah said yesterday that his recent visits to China and India as part of a four-nation Asian tour were successful by all standards.
“The leaders of the two countries have expressed their desire to strengthen their relations with Saudi Arabia,” the king told editors in chief of Saudi newspapers and magazines.
King Abdullah was satisfied over the outcome of his visits to Asian economic giants China and India. “I wished to start my tour from these two countries because I believe that strengthening relations with them will be in the interest of the Kingdom,” he said.
He praised the economic development achieved by China as well as the dramatic changes in its policies. “The agreements which we have reached with China and India reflect the right stand taken by the Kingdom toward the two countries.”
Abdullah emphasized Saudi Arabia’s strong relations with Pakistan. “Pakistan is a brotherly country of the Kingdom and I have told this to our friends in India who have understood this Saudi position. Our relations with India will help Indo-Pak relations,” he said.
The king said Saudi Arabia’s relations with the United States were in the best form since his last visit to the country in April 2005, when he met President George W. Bush. “Our viewpoints were identical on issues discussed with Bush,” he added.
Asked about foreign media reports that accuse Saudi Arabia of funding terrorism, Abdullah said: “This is utter nonsense. How can we support our enemies? I have told this fact to world leaders. Saudi Arabia has suffered a lot by terrorism, more than any other country.” He also spoke about Riyadh’s successful campaigns to root out terrorism and its efforts to dry up its financial sources.
The king said his current tour was aimed at enhancing the welfare and prosperity of Saudi people as it would open new horizons for industrial and commercial exchange with countries that have made rapid strides in various sectors.
“I will continue these efforts in the service of the Kingdom and its people,” he said. “I am in favor of objective criticism based on facts. But I don’t like sensationalism and provocative reporting.”
The king also answered questions from the editors and heard their comments on his visits to China and India on the basis of viewpoints expressed by their counterparts in both countries.
Abdullah arrives in Malaysia today on the third leg of the tour, which ends in Pakistan. This is Abdullah’s first visit to Malaysia since ascending the throne last year. Earlier he visited the Southeast Asian country as crown prince in order to attend the 10th summit of the Organization of the Islamic Conference.
