New Delhi, January 23:

In the first visit by a Saudi Arabian monarch to India in over half a century, king Abdulllah bin Abdulaziz al-Saud arrives here tomorrow on a four-day long trip which is expected to signal a radical transformation in ties between New Delhi and the most influential Arab country.

The king, who will be the chief guest at the Republic Day parade will hold talks with prime minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday on a broad spectrum of bilateral, regional and international issues.

India and Saudi Arabia are expected to sign three agreements; on combating terrorism, a double tax avoidance treaty and a bilateral investment promotion agreement. The king, who arrives here from Beijing, and the prime minister are expected to focus on dovetailing strategies for providing a new thrust to burgeoning business relations and consolidating energy security.

Abdullah, accompanied by a large business delegation, would also inaugurate an exhibition of his country’s products in the capital and address a business summit.

A special session of the India-Saudi Arabia Business Council has also been called. The king will be conferred an honorary doctorate by Jamia Millia Islamia university.

For India, Saudi Arabia is the biggest supplier of crude and, therefore, a lynchpin of its future energy security.

Sino-S Arabia pact

BEIJING: China and Saudi Arabia signed an accord to expand energy cooperation on Monday during a visit by Saudi King Abdullah. The pact on ‘cooperation in oil, natural gas and minerals’ was signed between Saudi oil minister Ali al-Nuaimi and Ma Kai, minister of China’s state development and reform commission. — AFP