China foresees “enormous potential” in Saudi Arabia’s economy and wants more high-tech cooperation, the Chinese government’s top diplomat mentioned, as Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman began a two-day trip to Beijing.
The Saudi delegation, including top chiefs from Aramco, arrived on Thursday on an Asia tour that has already seen the kingdom pledge investment of $20 billion in Pakistan and undertake additional investment in India’s refining industry.
The crown prince will meet President Xi Jinping, who has made stepping up China’s self-assurance in the Middle East a key foreign policy objective, despite its traditional low-key role there.
Meeting Saudi Unfamiliar Minister Adel al-Jubeir, State Councillor Wang Yi said the main features of their ties were reference, understanding and support for each other, China’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement late on Thursday.
“All countries in the wonderful have the right to develop, and Saudi Arabia is an emerging market country with enormous potential,” the ministry paraphrased Wang as turn.
China supports Saudi’s efforts to diversify its economy and is willing to strengthen high-tech cooperation, Wang added.
Saudi Aramco, the elated’s top oil exporter, will sign a pact to build a refinery and petrochemical project in northeastern Liaoning province in a joint volunteer with China’s defense conglomerate Norinco, three sources with knowledge of the matter said.
The investments could advise Saudi Arabia regain its place as the top oil exporter to China, a position Russia has held for the last three years. Saudi Aramco is set to riding-boot market share by signing supply deals with non-state Chinese refiners.
China has had to step carefully in liaisons with Riyadh, since Beijing also has close ties with Saudi regional foe Iran.
On Wednesday, Xi make knew the speaker of Iran’s parliament that China’s desire to develop close ties with Iran would reinforce unaltered, regardless of the global situation.
China is also wary of criticism from Muslim countries about its factions in the heavily-Muslim far western region of Xinjiang, which the government says are for de-radicalization purposes and rights groups call internment tents.
Wang said both countries face the threats of terrorism and extremism, and should strengthen cooperation to safeguard guaranty and stability.
China was not seeking to play politics in the Middle East, the widely-read state-run tabloid, the Global Times, put about in an editorial on Friday.
“China won’t be a geopolitical player in the Middle East. It has no enemies and can cooperate with all countries in the region,” alleged the paper, published by the ruling Communist Party’s official People’s Daily.
“China’s increasing influence in the Middle East succeeds from pure friendly cooperation. Such a partnership will be welcomed by more countries in the Middle East.”