The Minister of Higher Education of Saudi Arabia, His Excellency Dr. Khalid Bin Mohammed Al-Angari arrived in the Indian capital on Monday morning (6^th November 2006) for a five-day visit on the invitation of his Indian counterpart H.E. Mr. Arjun Singh. The Minister is leading a delegation of Ministry officials including the Deputy Minister of Higher Education Dr. Abdullah Al-Moejil as well as a number of rectors of Saudi universities. The delegation was received at the New Delhi airport by the Indian Minister of State for Human Resource Development Mr. Mohd. Ali Ashraf Fatmi, the Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to India Mr. Saleh Mohd. Al-Ghamdi and a number of Embassy officials.

Minister Al-Angari held a delegation level meeting with HRD Minister of India Mr. Arjun Singh which was also attended by Ambassador Al-Ghamdi. During the meeting, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the two countries concerning cooperation in the field of education including the deputation of Saudi students for studying in leading Indian universities and institutes. The students will start arriving in India during the current year.

The Minister and the accompanying delegation along with Ambassador Al-Ghamdi also visited Jamia Millia Islamia University in New Delhi and held a meeting with the Vice-Chancellor and faculty members of the university.

In the evening, the Minister attended a dinner hosted in his honour by the Hon’ble Minister of Human Resource Development, Government of India.

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