In this file Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2014 photo, Afghan presidential candidate Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai speaks during a news conference at his resident in Kabul, Afghanistan. AP.
KABUL, Afghanistan — Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai is making his first overseas trip since taking office, fulfilling an election promise to undertake religious pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.
In a statement on Saturday, his office said Ghani Ahmadzai will perform Umrah, a pilgrimage to Mecca that can be undertaken at any time of year.
He will also meet with Saudi King Abdullah and other officials to discuss issues of mutual interest, the statement said.
Ghani Ahmadzai took office on September 29, after a long election campaign, during which he promised that his first overseas trip would be to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah.
His next scheduled trip is to China from October 28-31, where he will meet with President Xi Jinping and potential investors in the rebuilding of his war-torn country.
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