riyadh/moscow leaders saudi arabia russia world big oil exporters expect discuss cooperation oil production differences syria iran thursday first visit moscow reign saudi monarch slew investment deal include liquefy natural gas project petrochemical plant could also sign king salman trip plan 1-billion fund invest energy project likely finalise visit include talk kremlin president vladimir putin reflect rapid deepen tie russia saudi arabia drive mutual need stem drop global oil price two countries help secure deal opec producers cut output end march 2018 back compete side syria civil war riyadh support rebel fight president bashar al-assad force russian troop iranian militias side assad leave moscow align saudi arabia arch-rival iran whose influence riyadh fear grow region saudis want help iran russia want trade investment say mark n. katz expert russia-middle east relations george mason university saudi mind definitely link russians go try separate billboards erect road airport central moscow welcome king salman arabic russian son prince mohammed bin salman visit may elevation crown prince 2015 countries sovereign wealth fund agree 10 billion investments business forum include speeches top minister head state-owned energy giants saudi aramco gazprom well presentation saudi vision 2030 reform program aim end kingdom dependence oil moscow see trip payoff two-year-old intervention syria recognition grow middle east clout even 12 months ago riyadh highly critical russia involvement syria relationship look freeze ever say chris weafer senior partner economic political consultancy macro-advisory ltd. today change 180 degrees countries see political economic advantage close albeit pragmatic relationship visit intend make sure stay track discussion syria likely focus country look like islamic state defeat assad future peace talk saudi-backed opposition activists damascus achieve creation new de-escalation zone king may also seek assurances iran permanent role syria kremlin spokesman dmitry peskov say moscow hop king trip would breathe life relationship huge potential interest maintain dialogue riyadh middle east syria particular discussion oil market efficacy move prop price cut supply closely watch oil price fall last three years overstretch producers budget make extension joint cut beyond march 2018 likely moscow say last month discuss riyadh extend deal specific decisions make ahead nov. 30 producers meet vienna russian energy minister alexander novak say interview broadcast monday plan 1-billion fund invest energy project part efforts strengthen cooperation oil gas electricity renewable energy project russian firm also discuss deal saudi aramco provide drill service saudi arabia russian oil giant rosneft interest crude trade add russian economy minister maxim oreshkin say tuesday investors interest nuclear energy plant saudi arabia want build saudis would offer investment opportunities include ship company sovcomflot russian energy source say memorandum understand mou expect sign novatek saudi arabia liquefy natural gas lng project know arctic lng-2 aim start 2020s say detail still discuss russia would like saudi arabia become shareholder project source say also roles kingdom could take saudi aramco saudi basic industries corp sabic expect sign mou russia big petrochemical firm sibur examine opportunities build petrochemical plant two countries saudi king head russia oil investment syria agenda