In a significant move towards strengthening bilateral ties, Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has expressed his intention to meet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the earliest opportunity.

This comes in the wake of a report by a UK newspaper that officials from both countries are working towards scheduling a meeting between the two leaders before the end of the year in London.

The prime minister's office shared that a telephone conversation took place between Sunak and the Saudi leader, during which they discussed crucial matters such as developing trade and investment links, as well as enhancing cooperation on defense and security.

The prime minister and the crown prince have emphasized their commitment to continued collaboration, with a focus on progressing UK-Saudi cooperation. They eagerly await the opportunity to meet in person, as stated by Sunak's office in a released statement.

Notably, if the meeting takes place in the United Kingdom, it would mark the crown prince's first visit to the country since the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. The United States intelligence agencies have attributed the ordering of the slaying to Prince Mohammed.

The incident drew widespread condemnation globally, including from Britain. According to The Times of London, which cited sources within the British government, authorities are actively attempting to finalize a date for the meeting before the year's end.

While no official date has been set as of yet, this proposed meeting holds significant potential to contribute to the strengthening of ties between Britain and Saudi Arabia in crucial areas such as trade, investment, and defense cooperation.