China-Saudi strategic friendship deepens

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-02-10 09:38

In respect of economic ties, Saudi Arabia has been China's largest trade partner in West Asia for eight years. Statistics from China Customs showed bilateral trade volume in 2008 exceeded US$41.8 billion.

In the fields of culture, education and religion, the two countries have signed a series of agreements. The King Abdullah Scholarship has sponsored 147 Saudi students to study in China since it was created in 2006. The number of Muslim pilgrims in China making trips to Mecca has also grown year by year and the number reached 12,000 last year.

Saudi Arabia is the first leg of Hu's five-nation visit, which will also take him to Mali, Senegal, Tanzania and Mauritius.

During his visit in Saudi Arabia, Hu will hold talks with King Abdullah to exchange views on furthering friendly cooperation as well as international and regional issues of common concern, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

He will also visit a cement production line constructed by Chinese enterprises in the Saudi capital of Riyadh, the ministry said.

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