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Beijing Welcomes King Salman’s Visit | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Saudi King Salman (L) walks with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a welcoming ceremony in Riyadh January 19, 2016. REUTERS/Saudi Press Agency/Handout via Reuters


Beijing- Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lu Kang has announced that the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz will carry out an official visit to China on March 15-18.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi said his country is keen to boosting relations with Saudi Arabia, adding that Riyadh was the first stop in the Middle East tour of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

King Salman’s anticipated trip to China is his first official and third private visit.

It is expected to witness the signature of agreements in five fields (political, economic, education, humanitarian and cultural), given that the deals comply with the Saudi Vision 2030 and the One Belt, One Road initiative (OBOR).

Saudi Arabia is considered the biggest commercial partner of China in west Asia and Africa. It is also the largest importer of oil to China in addition to Saudi-Sino cooperation in the fields of establishing infrastructure, investment and contracts that are steadily expanding.

Cooperation is also advancing in the fields of energy production, satellites, sciences, technology, nuclear energy, renewable energy, the financial sector and other emerging fields.

Beijing-Riyadh relations have witnessed major progress especially after establishing the strategic friendship relations in 2008. Practical cooperation has also reached an unprecedented level in all segments.