Speaking to reporters after visiting Naif Arab University of Security Sciences in Riyadh, the ambassador commended Saudi Arabia's efforts in combating terrorism.
"The Kingdom and the US will face these dangers together," he said, adding that the king's visit would contribute to confronting these challenges.
King Abdullah is scheduled to visit the US soon after attending the G20 summit in Toronto on June 26-27. His talks with US President Barack Obama will focus on the prospects of reviving the Middle East peace process and strengthening bilateral relations. The Arab peace initiative, which has been welcomed by all countries except Israel, is the brainchild of King Abdullah.
Obama will host Saudi King Abdullah in Washington on June 29, the White House said.
Obama "looks forward to discussing with King Abdullah the strengthening of bilateral ties between the United States and Saudi Arabia as well as a range of common concerns related to Gulf Security, peace in the Middle East, and other regional and global matters," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said.
King Abdullah last traveled to attend a “Culture of Peace” conference at the United Nations in New York in November 2008. The UN conference was held at the initiative of the Saudi ruler to promote interfaith dialogue and was attended by heads of state and top officials from 80 countries.
The Saudi leader left Jeddah last Saturday for Casablanca on his way to Canada. His four-nation foreign tour will also take him to France, where he is scheduled to deliver a speech at UNESCO headquarters in Paris. The Middle East peace process will figure high in his talks with President Nicolas Sarkozy. His official visit to France is scheduled to start on July 12, informed sources said.
Saudi Arabia is the only country in the Middle East to be a member in the G20 group of countries. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper made a phone call to King Abdullah on Friday discussing the G20 Summit. Harper outlined the areas of priority discussion at the Summit, which include the need for G20 countries to follow through with stimulus; the need for the advanced economies to take credible action on fiscal consolidation; the need to make real progress on the reform of the financial sector; and the need for the emerging economies to take steps to stimulate demand in their own markets. The summit is expected to focus on sustainable growth, financial system reform, international financial institution reform, and trade freedom promotion.
