King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, received at his palace in Riyadh, Friday, British Prime Minister David Cameron and his accompanying delegation. The prime minister conveyed the greetings and appreciation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to the King, who in turn, sent his greetings and appreciation to Her Majesty. The two leaders reviewed regional and international events and developments and discussed prospects for bilateral cooperation and the means to promote and consolidate them in all fields. Cameron is visiting Saudi Arabia, an important British partner in the Middle East, for the first time since he took office, Downing Street said Friday. “Building a strong relationship with Saudi Arabia is vital to advancing the United Kingdom's priorities in the region: increasing exports and investment; boosting energy security and creating jobs; cooperating on security, counter-proliferation and counter-terrorism; and promoting stability through political reform and human rights,” Downing Street said. Saudi Arabia is Britain's largest trading partner in the Middle East, with bilateral trade worth over £15 billion every year, the statement said, while Saudi investment in the United Kingdom is worth more than £62 billion ($95 billion).
