JEDDAH: Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, is expected to meet with President Barack Obama and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in his visit to the United States, local media said.

The deputy crown prince left for the US early Monday upon the invitation of the US government, the Saudi Press Agency said.

The royal court said in a statement late on Sunday that the prince would discuss ways of strengthening relations with the United States.

Prince Mohammed’s delegation includes Finance Minister Ibrahim bin Abdulaziz Al-Assaf, Minister of Commerce and Investment Majed bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi, Minister of State and Cabinet Member Mohammed bin Abdulmalik Al Al-Sheikh, Minister of Culture and Information del bin Zaid Altoraifi, Chief of General Intelligence Khalid bin Ali Al-Humaidan, and several other officials.

Asharq Al-Awsat quoted sources as saying that Prince Mohammed would start his visit in New York where he was expected to meet the UN chief on Monday.

He would then meet Obama as well as Secretary of State John Kerry and Defense Secretary Ash Carter in Washington, Asharq Al-Awsat said.

On Sunday, Prince Mohammed chaired a meeting of the Council for Economic Affairs and Development, the Gulf state’s main economic coordination body.

Prince Mohammed is the architect of “Vision 2030”, an ambitious plan released in April to diversify the kingdom’s economy away from oil.