After a three-day visit to Israel, US President George W. Bush has now arrived in Riyadh, in order to meet King Abdullah on his ranch outside the Saudi capital.

He is expected to try to convince the oil-rich nation to increase production and also tame the record gasoline prices that are affecting U.S. consumers.

Bush also met King Abdullah in January, with the same goals, but his plea was not welcomed by the kingdom, which said the production would only be increased when the market demanded it and that production levels were perfectly normal. Since January, the oil price has increased with nearly 30 percent, to about $126 a barrel. Saudi Arabia is known to maintain about one-fifth of the world’s oil reserves.

At his arrival on Friday, the president got a red carpet welcome and was warmly greeted by Saudi leaders, while a military orchestra was playing the national anthem of the U.S.

The White House said that Bush’s visit to Saudi Arabia also had as goal the celebration of 75 years of formal U.S. - Saudi relations. The two country leaders hope to mend the relations between the countries, which had become colder after the September 11 attacks and the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said that Bush and King Abdullah were also expected to discuss nuclear energy cooperation and infrastructure protection.

"The United States and Saudi Arabia have agreed to cooperate in safeguarding the kingdom's energy resources by protecting key infrastructure, enhancing Saudi border security, and meeting (its) expanding energy needs," a White House statement said, according to Reuters.

On Thursday, President Bush held a speech to Israel’s parliament, as his visit coincided with the 60th anniversary of the country's foundation.