Russian President Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation Thursday with Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud at the Saudi side’s initiative, the Kremlin press service informed.

The two leaders discussed various matters pertaining to their cooperation at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in the context of the decision adopted at the recent Samarkand summit to grant the status of Dialogue Partner to Saudi Arabia. Prince Mohammed bin Salman mentioned the SCO’s growing role in international affairs and expressed Saudi Arabia’s willingness to take an active part in its work.

They talked about Russia-Saudi Arabia coordination to ensure stability on the global oil market, expressed a high appreciation of the efforts taken within the framework of OPEC+ and reaffirmed their commitment to implement the agreements reached.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman said that Saudi Arabia would be adequately represented at the Russian Energy Week International Forum, which is scheduled to take place in Moscow on October 12–14.

He expressed satisfaction with the transfer of foreign prisoners who illegally took part in hostilities in Donbas to Saudi Arabia, which became possible thanks to the personal mediation of the Crown Prince.

During the exchange of views on the bilateral agenda, the sides noted that their trade and economic ties were growing at a high pace and that mutually beneficial cooperation was developing in widely different areas.

It was agreed to maintain interaction and personal contacts.