MOSCOW, Sept 2: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz met Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday for talks aimed at easing tensions between two of the world’s largest oil nations.

“We pay special attention to your visit since we view Saudi Arabia as one of most important Muslim nations,” Mr Putin said at the start of the talks at the Kremlin. “There are many issues that link us because they represent the interests of both Russia and Saudi Arabia,” he said.

Prince Abdullah replied: “Russia holds a special place in our hearts since it was the first nation to recognize the young Saudi government” and called the meeting “historic”.

The crown prince’s three-day visit is the highest-ranking appearance by any Saudi official to Russia since 1926.—AFP