The official state agency of Saudi Arabia (SPA) announced that Chinese President Xi Jinping would visit the country on December 7-9.
The purpose of the visit was defined as “strengthening the historical relations and distinguished strategic partnership that connects Saudi Arabia and China.” It was also noted that King Salman and Xi Jinping would preside over the Saudi Arabian-Chinese summit, which Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will attend.
It was reported that the Chinese President would also attend the “Riyadh-GCC-China Summit” and the “Riyadh-China Arab Cooperation and Development Summit” with the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
Both summits, which will be attended by heads of state and leaders from the Gulf and Arab regions, will discuss ways to advance the relations in all fields and various aspects of economic cooperation.
Relations with Washington are strained
Xi’s visit coincides with growing tensions between Saudi Arabia and the United States, particularly over energy policy.
Despite Riyadh’s refusal to condemn Russia for Ukraine intervention despite Western pressure and US President Biden’s demand to increase oil production, OPEC+’s decision to cut output by two million barrels a day in October brought relations to a breaking point.
The Biden-Harris Administration accuses Saudi Arabia of supporting Russia in the Ukraine war.
Experts believe the tension between the Biden administration and OPEC+, especially the Gulf countries, will increase even more.
Head of the Riyadh-based Gulf Research Center, Saudi analyst Abdulaziz Sager stated that Arab states have alternatives to their Western allies, emphasizing that their relations are primarily based on economic interests.
In this case, the visit of China, Riyadh’s largest trading partner, draws attention.
The developing relations between China and Saudi Arabia in trade, security, and technology have alarmed the United States. The allegations that Saudi Arabia could agree with China to trade oil in the renminbi have increased the uneasiness. Saudi Arabia is China’s largest supplier of crude oil.
It is stated that the developing Chinese-Saudi Arabian relations have risks of exacerbating the rift between Washington and Riyadh.
China’s Belt and Road Initiative and Saudi Vision 2030
The Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to China also wrote an article on bilateral relations before Xi Jinping’s visit.
In the article published in China Daily, relations between Saudi Arabia and China are described as “an upsurge based on the development of trust, mutual respect, common interests and cooperation since 1990”.
While it is emphasized that bilateral relations are based on mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation, it is also stated that they are compatible with the developments taking place in the world.
As it is said that bilateral relations have been growing and accelerating since Xi Jinping visited Saudi Arabia in 2016, attention is drawn to the harmony between Riyadh’s 2030 Vision and China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
The article emphasizes that the most crucial element in bilateral relations is economic: “Saudi Arabia has become China’s first trade partner in the Middle East and North Africa region. Similarly, Saudi Arabia is the first among the countries that export oil to China, while China is Saudi Arabia’s first trading partner.”
According to the latest economic data, the trade capacity between Saudi Arabia and China increased by 37.4 percent in the first 10 months of 2022 compared to the same period of the previous year, exceeding $97 billion. In addition, in this period, Saudi Arabia’s exports to China have increased by 45 percent to 66 billion dollars, while China’s exports to Saudi Arabia increased by 23.3 percent to 30 billion dollars.
