Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday on an official visit to forge closer ties with Riyadh and sign multibillion-dollar deals. He last visited the kingdom in 2016.
Mr Xi is in Saudi Arabia until Saturday to attend the inaugural China-Arab States Summit and to meet GCC leaders at the China-Gulf conference in the capital, Riyadh.
It is only his third overseas visit since the outbreak of Covid-19, which has heavily affected China's international trade due to strict entry requirements to the country. But China's coronavirus rules were eased significantly on Wednesday, restoring some confidence to international investors.
King Salman invited Mr Xi “in order to strengthen the historical relations and distinguished strategic partnership that unites the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with the People's Republic of China”, the state-run Saudi Press Agency said ahead of the visit. Economic and development co-operation will be discussed, it added.
Chinese flags were hoisted along major roads in Riyadh, while Mr Xi was pictured on the front pages of newspapers that highlighted the trip's potential economic benefits.
Mr Xi’s attendance at the China-Arab States Summit marks the “largest and highest-level diplomatic event between China and the Arab world since the founding of the People’s Republic of China”, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Wednesday.
The summit is a turning point for bilateral relations with Saudi Arabia, the ministry said. The two countries will sign deals worth more than $29.3 billion during the visit, said SPA.
China's ambassador to the kingdom has said the Riyadh summits, chaired by the leaders of the kingdom, China, the Gulf and Arab countries, will “enhance the interests of humanity”.
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