China and Saudi Arabia Relationship

Published: December 09,2022

By Staff Writer 

President Xi Jinping is currently in Saudi Arabia for a  four-day trip, where he will attend two important conferences — the first China-Arab States Summit and the first summit of the China and Gulf Cooperation Council. The two conferences are expected to boost collaboration and cooperation between China and Arab nations.

China and Saudi Arabia established official diplomatic relations in July 1990, while in 2016, the two countries established comprehensive strategic partnership. In the same year, President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to Saudi Arabia and held talks with King Salman bin Abdalaziz Al Saud. 

In March 2017, King Salman bin Abdulaziz paid a state visit to China, marking the beginning of practical cooperation whereby the two leaders signed a memorandum of understanding on the Belt and Road Initiative.  

China is Saudi Arabia’s largest trading partner, while Saudi Arabia is also China’s largest trading partner in the Middle East. China’s trade with Arab countries amounted to $330 billion in 2021, of which 26 percent to Saudi Arabia estimated about $87.3 billion. Saudi Arabia is now the largest trading partner of China in the Middle East. China exports mainly steel, mechanical and electrical products and clothing, while Saudi Arabia exports to China mainly crude oil and other petrochemical products.  China imports 87.57 tons of crude oil from Saudi Arabia.

The two countries have also enjoyed cultural exchange since 2016, when “The Arab Road” exhibition displayed Saudi Arabia’s cultural relics at the National Museum of China. In 2017, King Salman attended the opening ceremony of the Peking University branch of the King Abdul-Aziz Public Library. 

The Guardian newspaper wrote that, Xi visit to Saudi Arabia “offers the most visible platform yet for Riyadh to showcase its pulling power as a trade partner and emerging presence as a global voice to be reckoned with. Beijing is already Riyadh’s biggest trading partner and Saudi Arabia is a member of the belt and road global infrastructure plan.”

The paper also quoted a senior Saudi official saying that, “We have said for a long time that there are more people to dine with than Washington,” probably referring to the discomfort of Riyadh relationship with the US administration and the warming up relations with Beijing. The official further added, “The Chinese do not lecture and they don’t disrespect. They know how to do business.” “The Americans on the other hand have wanted us to choose sides. We will not.”