Saudi ambassador to Australia highlights Australian Foreign

Canberra, May 19, SPA -- The Saudi ambassador to Australia and New
Zealand Hasan Talaat Nazer said that the recently-concluded visit to
the Kingdom by Australia's Foreign Minister Steven Smith was
successful, will play a basic role in continuing the enhancement of
cooperative relation and positive partnership between the two
countries and that it has constituted an important point in the
growing relation between the Kingdom and Australia.

In a statement here today, the Saudi ambassador also said that the
visit constituted an example for the vigorousness of relations
between the two countries over the last period, citing the increasing
number of more than 8,000 Saudi students studying in Australia, and
the high classification of the Kingdom as Australia's second biggest
trade partner in the Gulf region and second biggest Australian auto
market.

He also cited that Saudi Arabia is a key market for Australian
products in the Gulf and Middle East, particularly automobiles, tiny
industries and diary and goats products.
--SPA