KABUL: Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai on Saturday made his first overseas trip since taking office, fulfilling an election promise to undertake a religious pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.

His office said in a statement that Ghani Ahmadzai would perform Umrah, a pilgrimage to Makkah that can be undertaken at any time of year. He would also meet with Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and other officials to discuss issues of mutual interest, the statement said.

Ghani Ahmadzai took office on September 29, after a prolonged election, during which he promised that his first foreign trip would be to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah.

His next scheduled trip is to China from October 28-31, where he will meet with President Xi Jinping and potential investors in the rebuilding of his war-torn country.