Saudi Crown Prince
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman (L) and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (R) embrace during a cermonial reception at the presidential palace in New Delhi on February 20, 2019. Image Credit: AFP

New Delhi: Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman arrived in New Delhi on a state visit. Indian Prime minister Narendra Modi received him at the airport with his trademark hug.

The Saudi Crown Prince arrived in New Delhi with his ministers and a large business delegation. He is expected to hold bilateral talks with PM Modi on Wednesday.

India has been identified as one of the eight strategic partners with whom Saudi Arabia hopes to "deepen partnership" in terms of security, trade, investment and culture, news agency Press Trust of India quoted senior foreign ministry official TS Tirumurti as saying.

The two nations are expected to set up a ''Strategic Partnership Council'' at a ministerial level, planning joint naval exercises and enhancing defence cooperation during this visit.

PM Modi visited Riyadh in 2016, during which the two nations expanded cooperation across diverse areas including trade, investment and counter-terrorism.

The two nations had also signed a pact on the exchange of intelligence related to money laundering and terrorism.