Saudi Arabia, China to strengthen trade, security ties

Saudi Arabia and China are seeking to strengthen trade ties and regional security with an upcoming visit by Chinese leader Xi Jinping to Saudi Arabia.

“China is Saudi Arabia’s largest trading partner, we have huge investments in China and the Chinese have huge investments in Saudi Arabia,” Saudi minister of state for foreign affairs Adel Al-Jubeir said on Saturday on the sidelines of the COP27 climate summit in Egypt.

Asked about the priorities for the trip, Jubeir, who is also the kingdom’s climate envoy, said:

“We look at the things we care about: stability and security in the region and in the world, how you increase further trade and investment between both countries, and of course, the issue of climate is one that is now at the top of the agenda in terms of international relations.”

Jubeir did not give details of the trip but said visits between Chinese and Saudi leaders were “natural“.

Also Read: Biden defends decision to visit Saudi Arabia

We have huge equities at stake and these visits are not uncommon. 

 “The same with our other trading partners and strategic partners whether it is the United States, the UK, France, Germany, this is what countries do,” Jubeir said.

The visit comes at a time when relations between Saudi Arabia and the United States have been strained by a spat over oil supplies, and amid U.S. concerns over growing cooperation between Gulf Arab states and China.

Two sources familiar with discussions ahead of Xi’s trip said the Chinese leader was expected to visit in the second half of December and to attend a China-Gulf summit alongside leaders of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), as well as a second planned summit with other Arab leaders.

Zainab Sa’id