China to strengthen ties with Saudi Arabia

By Li Xing (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2009-02-11 07:28

RIYADH -- China will work with Saudi Arabia to strengthen bilateral ties and cope with the global financial crisis, President Hu Jintao said Tuesday.

Saudi Arabian King Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz (R) receives a gift from a Chinese girl while Chinese President Hu Jintao looks on in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, February 10, 2009. The girl is among 12 Chinese students, half of them from quake-hit Sichuan province, who accompanied Hu on a student exchange program. [Agencies]

Bilateral relations have proceeded smoothly in the past years, Hu said in a statement after arriving in Riyadh, the Saudi Arabian capital.

"China is willing to work with Saudi Arabia to push forward the ties and benefit the peoples of the two nations," he said.

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Hu and Saudi Arabian King Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz will hold talks today, with the financial crisis one of their topics.

Trade and investment deals in fields such as energy and transport, are expected to be signed after their meeting.

During the three-day visit - Hu's second to Saudi Arabia as president - Hu will meet with secretary-general of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Abdul Rahman Al-Attiyah, to discuss cooperation between China and GCC countries.

Hu will also visit a cement production project constructed by Chinese companies in Riyadh.

Since China and Saudi Arabia established diplomatic ties in 1990, relations have developed steadily, with increasing exchange of visits at different levels while expanding cooperation in various sectors.

In January 2006, King Abdullah paid a state visit to China, during which he and Hu agreed to deepen friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

Three months later, the Chinese president returned a state visit to Saudi Arabia, which promoted all-around bilateral cooperation.

After the 8-magnitude earthquake hit western China in May 2008, King Abdullah became the biggest donor to China, offering $60 million of cash and relief materials.

Saudi Arabia is now China's largest trading partner in West Asia. Two-way trade hit $41.8 billion last year.