Jeddah // German Chancellor Angela Merkel met Saudi King Salman on Sunday as she began a visit focused on bilateral relations and preparations for the next G20 meeting.
King Salman received Merkel in his palace in Jeddah, Spa state news agency said, adding that the two presided over a signing ceremony for several cooperation agreements in the fields of technology, energy, business and security.
She is scheduled to visit the UAE on Monday. The Emirates and Saudi Arabia are Germany's largest trading partners in the Middle East.
Ms Merkel was expected to discuss the agenda for the G20 meeting in July, including the Paris climate accord and G20 decisions on energy, according to a German official.
"There will be for sure a discussion over how Germany could support Saudi efforts to diversify its economy and reduce its dependency on fossil energy," the official said ahead of the visit.
"Economic relations are solid but not shining. The volume of commercial exchange stood at €8 billion (Dh32bn) in 2016. German investments in Saudi were around €1.2bn." the official said.
The world's largest oil exporter has embarked on an ambitious plan to diversify its oil-dependent economy after a sharp drop in crude prices hit revenues.
Ms Merkel is also expected to urge Saudi Arabia to reduce tension with Iran, the official added.
Ms Merkel will also meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the powerful son of the king who is also defence minister.
She is expected to meet Saudi businesswomen during her two-day visit. She is travelling with a business delegation that includes CEOs of major German companies.
*Agence France-Presse and Associated Press
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