Saudi deputy crown prince to meet Trump
[DUBAI] Saudi Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman left Saudi Arabia on Monday for the United States for a visit scheduled to include talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, the Royal Court said in a statement carried by state news agency SPA.
It will be the first meeting between the powerful son of Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz, who is spearheading a Saudi economic reform plan, and the US president since Mr Trump came to office in January.
The statement said that in his talks with Mr Trump and other US officials, Prince Mohammed, who is also the Saudi defence minister, was expected to "discuss reinforcing bilateral relations and review regional issues of mutual interest".
It said that the working visit would start on Thursday but gave no further details.
King Salman, ruler of the world's top oil exporter, is currently in Japan, part of a month-long Asia tour to build ties with the world's fastest growing importers of Saudi crude and promote investment opportunities, including the sale of a stake in its giant state firm Saudi Aramco.
Mr Trump spoke by telephone with King Salman soon after he took office in January and agreed to support safe zones in Syria and Yemen, according to a White House statement.
Before his departure for the United States, Prince Mohammed met with Citigroup's chief executive officer Michael Corbat in Riyadh on Sunday to discuss investment opportunities in the kingdom and globally, SPA reported.
REUTERS
BT is now on Telegram!
For daily updates on weekdays and specially selected content for the weekend. Subscribe to t.me/BizTimes
International
UK wage growth and services inflation too high for rate cut, BOE’s Greene says
US to reduce licensing by 80% for UK, Australia to boost Aukus
IMF tells Asian central banks not to follow Fed too closely
UN chief warns Mideast on brink of 'full-scale regional conflict'
IMF boss says ‘all eyes’ on US amid risks to global economy
UK financial sector seeks stronger accountability of regulators