EDITOR'S PLEASE NOTE QUALITY AS INCOMING Saudi Arabia kicked off a diplomatic charm offensive in Asia this week Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman looking to build ties and, according to analysts, rebuild his reputation after the murder last year of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

And he started out big in Pakistan on Sunday (February 17with a promise of 20 billion dollars worth of investment, calling it just the start of an economic partnership.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) SAUDI ARABIA'S CROWN PRINCE MOHAMMED BIN SALMAN, SAYING: "It's big for phase one and definitely it's going to grow every month, every year." Most of the deals signed by the two sides are energy projects, including a brand new oil refinery.

Pakistan could really use the help right now.

Its economy is losing steam, its deficit is widening and its reserves of foreign currency are drying up.

Prime Minister Imran Khan has gone the extra mile to welcome the crown prince, giving him the biggest red-carpet treatment since the visit of China's president in 2015.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) PAKISTANI PRIME MINISTER, IMRAN KHAN, SAYING: "Saudi Arabia has always been a friend in need which is why we value it so much." And after last week, Pakistan may be looking for friends.

A suicide bomber killed dozens of Indian police in the disputed region of Kashmir - an attack that New Delhi has blamed on Islamabad.

As for Prince Mohammed, he doesn't seem to be taking sides - he will visit India on Tuesday.

Later in the week, he will wrap up his tour with a trip to China.

He had planned to visit two other Muslim majority countries in Asia - Indonesia and Malaysia.

But those trips, according to officials from both countries, have been postponed.

ENDS