KSA seeks strategic Chinese partnership

Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, said on Friday that Saudi Arabia was seeking strategic partnership with China.
“We want to transform our relations into a strategic partnership,” the crown prince said during talks with Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao.
The vice president, on the other hand, described Saudi Arabia as an important strategic partner of China in the Middle East.
“We give utmost importance to the crown prince’s visit, which demonstrates our deep-rooted relations,” he said.
Their remarks came as Saudi Arabia and China signed a number of agreements of cooperation in major fields.
During the meeting, the vice president commended the crown prince’s keenness to boost the friendly relations between the two countries.
The first agreement on a cooperation program between the Kingdom’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the Chinese Department for Quality Control, Tests and Quarantine was signed by Commerce and Industry Minister Tawfiq Al-Rabiah and Chi Shoping, president of the China’s quality control department.
Another deal is a memorandum of understanding between King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) and the Chinese National Space Management for cooperation in the fields of space sciences and technologies.
KACST President Mohammed Al-Suwayel and Deputy Industry and Information Technology Minister Cheo Datchi, who is also president of the Chinese National Space Management Sciences and Technologies, signed this deal.
Yusuf Al-Bassam, vice president of the Saudi Development Fund and China’s Deputy Finance Minister Wang Bawon signed the third agreement. It aims to co-finance a new headquarters for the University of Leolyang in the Sanche state in China.
Crown Prince Salman also held discussions with China’s Prime Minister Li Keqiang in Beijing.
Another agreement signed in the presence of the leaders of the two countries was to promote cooperation in boosting investments between the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) and the Investment Development Commission, an affiliate of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce.
SAGIA Gov. Abdul Latif Al-Othman and Liu Diancheon, chairman of Chinese development commission were present.
“The signing today of a number of memorandums of understanding in the fields of investment and cooperation in space sciences and technology and technical cooperation program in the commercial field, another agreement on the contribution of the Saudi Development Fund in financing a project to establish university buildings in the State of Sanche, once more confirm the depth of this partnership and its good objectives based on the joint desire to continue the historical ties binding our two peoples and our common endeavor to achieve comprehensive development in our two countries in the service of peace and stability,” the crown prince said stressing the importance of the agreements signed between the two economic powers.
Crown Prince Salman also held discussions with China’s Prime Minister Li Keqiang in Beijing.
The premier said he was ‘looking forward to see the crown prince’s current visit contributing to add a new momentum to relations and cooperation between the Kingdom and China.
Crown Prince Salman and Prime Minister Li Keqiang and discussed ways to enhance relations between the two countries in all fields, as also regional and international developments and situations of mutual interest.
The meeting took place at the Palace of the Presidency of the State Council in Beijing.
Li Keqiang underscored the Kingdom’s position as China’s largest trade partner in the Middle East and Africa, while welcoming the crown prince to his country.
The premier also hoped the crown prince’s current visit would contribute to adding a new momentum to the cooperation between the Kingdom and China, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Crown Prince Salman expressed his happiness over making a visit to China and confirmed the Kingdom’s keenness to strengthen the cooperation between the two countries in all fields to the benefit of the two friendly countries and peoples.
The crown prince also conveyed the greetings of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to the premier, adding that the Kingdom’s policy is calling for peace and stability in the entire world.
The meeting was attended by the Chief of the Crown Prince’s Court and Special Adviser to the Crown Prince, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Petroleum and Mineral Resources Minister Ali Al-Naimi, Finance Minister Ibrahim Al-Assaf, Culture and Information Minister Abdulaziz Khoja, Commerce and Industry Minister Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, and other state ministers and officials.