China wants more hi-tech cooperation with Saudi Arabia, foreign minister Wang Yi says
- Kingdom is an ‘emerging market country with enormous potential’, diplomat says
- Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman expected to meet President Xi Jinping in Beijing
China sees “enormous potential” in Saudi Arabia’s economy and wants more hi-tech cooperation, its top diplomat said late on Thursday as Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman began a two-day trip to Beijing.
The Saudi delegation, including executives from Aramco, arrived in China on an Asia tour that has already seen the kingdom pledge investment of US$20 billion in Pakistan and seek additional investment in India’s refining industry.
The crown prince will meet President Xi Jinping, who has made stepping up China’s presence in the Middle East a key foreign policy objective, despite its traditional low-key role there.
Meeting Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir, State Councillor Wang Yi said the main features of their ties were respect, understanding and support for each other, China’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
“All countries in the world have the right to develop and Saudi Arabia is an emerging market country with enormous potential,” Wang was quoted as saying.
China supported Saudi Arabia’s efforts to diversify its economy and was willing to strengthen hi-tech cooperation, he said.
Saudi Aramco, the world’s top oil exporter, would sign a pact to build a refinery and petrochemical project in northeast China’s Liaoning province in a joint venture with Chinese defence conglomerate Norinco, sources with knowledge of the matter said.
The investments could help Saudi Arabia regain its place as the top oil exporter to China, a position Russia has held for the past three years. Saudi Aramco is set to boost market share by signing supply deals with non-state Chinese refiners.
Beijing has had to step carefully in relations with Riyadh, it also has close ties with Saudi Arabia’s regional foe Iran.
On Wednesday, Xi told the speaker of Iran’s parliament that China’s desire to develop close ties with Iran would stay unaltered, regardless of the global situation.
China is also wary of criticism from Muslim countries about its camps in the heavily Muslim far western region of Xinjiang, which the government says are for de-radicalisation purposes and rights groups call internment camps.
Wang said both countries faced the threats of terrorism and extremism, and should strengthen cooperation to safeguard security and stability.
China was not seeking to play politics in the Middle East, the state-run tabloid Global Times said 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,” it said.
“China’s increasing influence in the Middle East comes from friendly cooperation. Such a partnership will be welcomed by more countries in the Middle East.”
