Russia's Putin to visit Saudi Arabia in October, says Falih

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit Saudi Arabia, a traditional U.S. ally in the Middle East, in October this year, Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih said on Monday.

Falih, who was in Moscow for talks with his Russian counterpart, said Saudi companies were considering taking part in a methanol plant project in Russia's east, the Interfax news agency reported.

(Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin and Katya Golubkova; writing by Tom Balmforth; editing by Maria Kiselyova)