Saudi King's Historic Russian Visit

By: Ali Aizaz Zahid

RIYADH : King Salman of  Saudi Arabia will arrive in Russia this week to conduct the first official visit to the country by a Saudi King, a senior Kremlin aide said Monday.

''We are awaiting the King's visit on Thursday, President Vladmir Putin's foreign policy aide, Yury Ushakov, was quoted by the state TASS  news agency as saying.

Saudi Arabia's ministry of information called the visit by 81-year-old Salman ''historic'' as it would be the first official visit to Russia by a Saudi monarch.

Putin visited Riyadh in 2007

The visit comes a month before members of the OPEC oil cartel, of which Saudi Arabia is the biggest producer, are due to meet with the other nations that have joined them-

In cutting crude output, including Russia, to discuss extending the pact that has helped pop up prices.

King Salman is expected to ask Russia's support and commitment to ensure that the production cuts deals continue.