Beijing-The first meeting of the Saudi-Chinese Joint Committee, which was held on Tuesday in Beijing, saw the signing of 17 agreements and memoranda of accords in different cooperation fields.
Ahead of the meeting, Saudi Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense met with China’s vice Prime Minister Zhang Gaoli to discuss joint collaboration efforts and the means to develop strategic cooperation between the two countries.
The two officials then chaired the first meeting of the high-level Saudi-Chinese Joint Committee, where a number of agreements and memoranda of understanding between the two governments were signed, including a memorandum of understanding in energy sector and another in oil storage; an agreement of understanding to impose development loan to help finance the reconstruction of areas affected by earthquakes; an executive program for the development of the Information Silk Road; a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in housing and another in the field of mining; a memorandum of understanding for cooperation between the Chinese Ministry of Commerce and Saudi Fund for Development; and a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in water resources.
The first meeting of the joint committee also saw the signing of a timetable on a program of cooperation between the Chinese State Administration of Quality Supervision, Testing and Quarantine, and the Ministry of Commerce and Investment of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Saudi and Chinese officials also signed an executive program on a cultural cooperation agreement and another program between the Standardization Administration of China and Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization.
A memorandum of understanding was signed between the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology and King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology. Another memorandum of cooperation was forged in the field of translation and publication of literary and classical works.
The two countries also signed a memorandum of understanding on the construction of a new project in Al-Asfar suburb.
Later on Tuesday, the deputy crown prince met with Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi in the presence of a number of representatives from the two countries.
He also held separate talks with representatives of Chinese banks, including Bank of China, Bank of China for Telecommunications and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.
Discussions focused on means to promote financial partnership and the available investment opportunities in the Kingdom in light of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.