China and the Arab world
The land of the Prophet embraces the wisdom of the East
At the invitation of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the first China-Arab States Summit and the first China-Gulf Cooperation Council Summit in Riyadh and paid a state visit to Saudi Arabia from December 7 to 10, 2022.
Ahmed Al-Zahrani, cultural attaché at the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in China, writes that, since establishing diplomatic relations in 1990, the two nations have developed a strategic cooperative relationship based on a foundation of mutual respect and mutual benefit. Leaders and officials of both sides have exchanged many visits during past 30 years. He maintains that since 2016, the relation has become a comprehensive strategic partnership.
Objective economic conditions have favored the Chinese-Saudi partnership and its intensification since 2016. Saudi Arabia provides a steady supply of crude oil for China, and China provid…