Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrived in Riyadh on Tuesday to chair the Fourth Meeting of the High-Level Chinese-Saudi Joint Committee and to undertake an official visit aimed at bolstering cooperation between China and Saudi Arabia.
Upon his arrival, Premier Li emphasized the significance of aligning China and Saudi Arabia’s development strategies. “Through this visit, I expect our two nations to further strengthen the alignment of our development strategies and elevate bilateral ties to a higher level,” Li stated.
The Premier highlighted the deep-rooted friendship between China and Saudi Arabia, noting that since the establishment of diplomatic relations 34 years ago, relations have achieved “leapfrog development,” resulting in fruitful outcomes in practical cooperation.
Reflecting on recent milestones, Li recalled Chinese President Xi Jinping’s attendance at the first China-Arab States Summit and the first China-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit in December 2022, followed by a state visit to Saudi Arabia. “Over the past year, both sides have actively implemented the key outcomes of the summits,” Li said. “We have continuously strengthened political mutual trust, advanced exchanges and cooperation across various fields, and maintained close communication on regional and international affairs.”
During his visit, Premier Li is set to hold in-depth discussions with Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud on bilateral relations and issues of common concern. “We aim to strengthen our friendship and expand cooperation,” Li affirmed.
He expressed optimism that his visit will further expand mutually beneficial cooperation, deepen the friendship between the two peoples, and foster greater progress in China-GCC and China-Arab relations.
Saudi Arabia is the first stop in Premier Li’s four-day tour of the Middle East, which will also include a visit to the United Arab Emirates.
(With input from Xinhua)
Reference(s):
Chinese premier starts Saudi Arabia visit to further boost cooperation
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