NEW DELHI, 29 May 2006 — With a letter from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, Indian Human Resources Development Minister Arjun Singh arrives in Saudi Arabia today.
Heading a high-level delegation, Arjun’s visit is a sequel to “Delhi Declaration,” signed during Abdullah’s visit in January. The seven-member Indian delegation includes University Grants Commission Chairman Sukhadeo Thorat, Jamia Millia Islamia Vice Chancellor Mushirul Hasan, Hyderabad University Vice Chancellor Seyed Hasnain, Indian Institute of Sciences-Bangalore Associate Director N. Balakrishnan and Aligarh Muslim University professor S. Kafeel Qasim.
“Arjun Singh’s visit is expected to strengthen academic relations between India and Saudi Arabia and the UAE, the two countries having a sizeable number of Indian expatriates,” an HRD Ministry official said. Arjun’s six-day Saudi visit will be followed by a three-day visit to the United Arab Emirates.
In the Delhi Declaration, Saudi Arabia and India pledged to work in close coordination in various fields, including information and communication technology. While in Saudi Arabia, Arjun will call on Abdullah. He is expected to have wide-ranging discussions with Saudi leaders, including Higher Education Minister Khaled Al-Anqari and Minister for Education Abdullah Bin-Obeid.
In Jeddah, the minister will open a seminar on educational exchanges between the two countries at the International Indian School at 7.30 p.m. on Thursday. India Forum is organizing the seminar in conjunction with the Indian Education Council (IEC). Eminent Saudi and Indian speakers will focus on education and its bilateral prospects. The event will be marked by the release of an Azad souvenir and a book titled “Khakay” by Awaz Sayeed. On June 2, Arjun will launch an Indo-Saudi Medical Forum (ISMF) at Jeddah Hilton at 7.30 p.m.
The minister will pay a visit to the King Abdul Aziz University on June 3 and chair high-level discussions with the president and deans of the university.
