Why King Salman bin Abdulaziz al Saud upcoming visit to China is important to Beijing ... and a worry for Washington
Monarch could be on quest to expand kingdom’s revenue sources, analyst says
Oil and Beijing’s “One Belt, One Road” trade initiative are expected to head the agenda when the king of Saudi Arabia stops in China as part of his Asian tour.
The trip by King Salman bin Abdulaziz al Saud comes amid uncertainty in the kingdom’s ties with Washington, and Beijing’s push to strengthen its presence in the Middle East.
Dates for the trip have yet to be announced, but diplomatic observers said the king’s agenda would probably include oil exports to China – the world’s second-biggest buyer of the fuel– infrastructure projects for Beijing’s trade initiative linking Asia, Africa and Europe.
The 81-year-old king embarked on his Asia-Pacific trip late last month and is travelling with 25 princes and 10 ministers. After stops in Malaysia and Indonesia, he is taking a break in Bali.
His 1,500-member delegation and 459 tonnes of luggage will go on to Brunei, Japan, China, the Maldives and Jordan.
The itinerary of his stay in China has not been announced. An official from the Saudi Arabian embassy in Beijing said on Monday the king would visit China, but the date had not been set.