ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Thursday said that government has invited Saudi Arabia to become the third partner in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) plan. Fawad Chaudhry was addressing a press conference after Prime Minister Imran Khan returned from his first foreign tour to Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates (UAE). He said that CPEC is the flagship project of multi-billion dollar Belt and Road Initiative and Pakistan has invited Saudi Arabia to be the third strategic partner of this flagship project. Also read: PM Imran Khan arrives in Abu Dhabi on official visit Fawad further stated that Saudi people warmly welcomed the PM Imran Khan, adding that King Salman bin Abdulaziz has ensured that kingdom stands besides Pakistan. Prime minister said that securing the kingdom is same as protecting Pakistan. The information minister said that a high level Saudi delegation comprises of finance and energy minister will visit Pakistan in the first week of October this year. Earlier, Prime Minister Imran Khan visited Saudi Arabia and UAE on a two-day official visit. The prime minister was accompanied by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Finance Minister Asad Umer, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry and Advisor on commerce Abdual Razaq Dawood.