Fri 15 April 2022:
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman discussed in a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping means to enhance the strategic partnership between China and the Kingdom, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Friday.
The two leaders reportedly discussed ways to further the work of the Saudi-Chinese Joint Committee.
The two sides also “agreed to make more efforts to enhance the partnership and strategic relationship between the two friendly countries,” SPA reported.
The leaders also spoke about the “international situations and issues of common interest,” according to SPA.
Calling China an important comprehensive strategic partner of Saudi Arabia, the crown prince said that in recent years, Saudi Arabia-China ties have seen great progress in various fields and China has provided a model of economic development and political stability for countries worldwide.
Saudi Arabia attaches great importance to China’s status and to the development of its relations with China, and firmly adheres to the one-China principle, Mohammed said.
He added that his country will continue to staunchly support China’s legitimate position on such issues concerning core interests as Xinjiang, resolutely oppose any interference in China’s internal affairs, and firmly safeguard the rights of all countries to choose their own political and human rights paths independently.
The crown prince said that Saudi Arabia is willing to work with China to strengthen high-level exchanges, sign agreements to synergize Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 with the Belt and Road Initiative, and deepen cooperation in such fields as economy, trade, transportation, infrastructure and energy.
Additionally, the Chinese president “praised the Kingdom’s pivotal role in the region” for its efforts to bring peace and stability to Yemen.
The Chinese president said that over the past years, China and Saudi Arabia have joined their efforts and moved forward together, facilitating new development in bilateral ties.
Xi also asked Mohammed to convey his greetings to Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, saying that at present, the international and regional situations are undergoing profound and complex changes, further highlighting the strategic and overarching significance of China-Saudi Arabia relations.
The Chinese side supports Saudi Arabia in safeguarding national sovereignty, security and stability, and in independently exploring a development path suited to its own national conditions, Xi stressed.
China will continue to synergize the Belt and Road Initiative with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and forge a high-level cooperation pattern between the two sides in such fields as energy, economy and trade as well as high technology, Xi said.
China is ready to work with Saudi Arabia to promote peace and stability in the Middle East, push for an early conclusion of the China-Gulf Cooperation Council free trade area agreement and jointly build a China-Arab community with a shared future for the new era, said Xi.
The last reported interaction between the two leaders was when Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince sent his condolences to China’s president in memory of victims of the China Eastern Airlines plane crash.
Earlier in March, Saudi Arabia strengthened energy ties with China, as the oil producer Saudi Aramco agreed to build a multi-billion-dollar refining and chemicals project that will tap into the Asian country’s future demand, Bloomberg reported.
SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES
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