The Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to the Republic of India Mr. Saleh Mohd. Al-Ghamdi, in his capacity as Dean of Arab Diplomatic Corps, hosted a dinner at his residence on Saturday 1^st December 2007, in honour of H.E. Mr. Shivshankar Menon, Foreign Secretary, Government of India and three secretaries of the Ministry of External Affairs. The dinner was attended by all Ambassadors of the Arab countries accredited in the Republic of India.

            The function provided a good opportunity for interaction between Mr. Menon and the Arab Ambassadors on the growing Arab-India relations and India’s traditional support to the rights of Palestinian people. It was also a good occasion to know about India’s positions on various regional and international issues.

            Responding to a welcome speech delivered by Ambassador Al-Ghamdi, the Indian Foreign Secretary praised the fast-growing relations between India and Saudi Arabia and the unprecedented achievements that have been made especially since the visit of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud to India in 2006.