From AI to dates, China and Saudi Arabia explore new oases beyond oil, but obstacles remain

China and Saudi Arabia have described bilateral relations as bring at ‘the best stage ever’ amid their respective fraying relations with the United States

The picture for cooperation, however, is not all rosy and bright across sectors, with cultural differences and talent recruitment potential challenges

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China and Saudi Arabia have repeatedly described bilateral relations as being at “the best stage ever” amid their respective fraying relations with the United States. Illustration: Henry Wong

Kinling Loin Lanzhou, Gansu provinceandJi Siqiin Lanzhou, Gansu province

Published: 9:00am, 20 Jul 2023Updated: 5:02pm, 25 Jul 2023

Saudi Arabian date exporter Omar al-Refaei once again set foot in China earlier this month, this time with higher hopes than his previous visit four years ago, as he looked to sell the traditional fruit into the world’s most populous market.

“I know, when Chinese think of Saudi Arabia, they only know [about] oil,” said Refaei, having flown over 5,500km (3,418 miles) from Riyadh to attend a trade fair in Lanzhou, the capital city of northwest China’s Gansu province.

“But we also have a lot of dates. No country can consume all of these, except for China,” added Refaei, who last visited China in 2019 but left empty-handed after failing to find an importer.

Refaei was part of a Saudi Arabian government-led delegation, which included representatives from investment and energy departments, who had been invited to the five-day Lanzhou Investment & Trade Fair held at the start of July.

I feel there has been more guidance, help and support from our government to help our business opportunities in China get bigger

Omar al-Refaei

“I feel there has been more guidance, help and support from our government to help our business opportunities in China get bigger,” said Refaei.

Following President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Riyadh in December, China and Saudi Arabia have repeatedly described bilateral relations as being at “the best stage ever” amid their respective fraying relations with the United States.