Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will be on a state visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from May 7 to 10 to discuss the oil price increase issue and boost ties between the two countries, the Presidential Palace said on Monday.

Arroyo's visit is at the invitation of King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud. The trip will be the first by an Asian non-Muslim woman head of state after the death of King Fahd in August 2005, according to the Palace.

Arroyo will meet with representatives of the Saudi business community and with Filipinos in the kingdom, the Palace said.

The Philippines imports about 40 percent of its oil needs from Saudi Arabia, which is also its 12th largest trading partner.

Source: Xinhua