Todd Bishop
Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is on a visit to Saudi Arabia, exchanged gifts with King Saudi Arabia on October 14. On the same day, Saudi Arabia signed a series of cooperation agreements with Russia, totaling nearly 10 billion US dollars.
Comprehensive media reported on October 15 that Vladimir Putin presented a female Kamchatka falcon to the Saudi king Salman of Saudi Arabia on October 14 and King Salman returned him a painting.
According to the Russian satellite news agency, Putin told the 84-year-old Salman that the habitat of such falcons is located on the Kamchatka Peninsula in northeastern Russia. Putin pointed out: “This falcon is very good. We are building a breeding center on the Kamchatka Peninsula.”
Salman thanked Putin for his gift and gave it back as a painting. In addition, Putin also sent a mammoth ivory product with “very high artistic value” to Mohammad Bin Salman Al Saud.
The Russian Minister of Natural Resources named the Kamchat Falcon “Alpha”, but the final naming rights were given to Saudi Arabia. The bird can prey on wild birds in the air. The Kamchatka Falcon is only a few thousand in Russia. It is very rare.
“Russia Today” said that the Falcon is a popular pastime in the Saudi royal family. Earlier, the Saudi prince had taken 80 falcons to hunt and flew for a ticket, which made a sensation.
At the same time, Putin and Salman jointly participated in the signing of 20 cooperation agreements and memorandums of understanding between the two countries on October 14. The Saudi media disclosed that the total value of the cooperation agreement signed this time was close to 10 billion US dollars, but did not disclose the specific content of each agreement.
Before the signing ceremony, the two sides held talks and said that strengthening communication and coordination between the two countries is conducive to maintaining peace and stability in the Gulf and even the Middle East.
