https://sputnikglobe.com/20221209/xis-visit-to-saudi-arabia-riyadh--beijing-consider-creating-china-gulf-free-trade-zone-1105275485.html
Xi's Visit to Saudi Arabia: Riyadh & Beijing Consider Creating China-Gulf Free Trade Zone
Xi's Visit to Saudi Arabia: Riyadh & Beijing Consider Creating China-Gulf Free Trade Zone
Sputnik International
Chinese President Xi Jinping underscored that Beijing considers Riyadh an important power in the multipolar world and attaches great importance to bolstering a... 09.12.2022, Sputnik International
2022-12-09T14:17+0000
2022-12-09T14:17+0000
2022-12-09T14:17+0000
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Riyadh and Beijing are considering the creation of a free trade zone between China and members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) comprising Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), according to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.Speaking at the China-Gulf Summit in the Saudi capital on Friday, bin Salman added that the GCC members and Beijing are cooperating to resolve problems pertaining to food and energy security.“We are [also] exploring opportunities for cooperation with China in the field of supply chains," the Saudi Crown Prince pointed out.Chinese President Xi Jinping, for his part, pledged that his country and the GCC “will work to establish a joint investment council and a center for the security of nuclear energy used for peaceful purposes.”The remarks followed Saudi and Chinese companies signing at least 34 investment agreements as part of Xi’s visit to the kingdom, which kicked off on Wednesday.The minister added that the kingdom offers "unprecedented" opportunities for investments in various areas, including renewable energy, industry, communications, biotechnology, tourism and construction, as part of the Saudi Vision 2030 — the economic development program to reduce the country's dependence on oil, diversify its economy, and develop various public service sectors.He was echoed by Xi, who underscored that such a collaboration has broad prospects, and that “China views Saudi Arabia as an important force in the multipolar world and attaches great importance to the development of a comprehensive strategic partnership with Riyadh.”In 2021, the Chinese-Saudi trade turnover reached 304.3 billion Saudi riyals ($81 billion) — a 37% increase from 2020's 221.6 billion Saudi riyals ($58 billion).
https://sputnikglobe.com/20221207/xis-visit-to-saudi-arabia-why-is-riyadh-enhancing-relations-with-china-1105166558.html
https://sputnikglobe.com/20221207/xi-jinpings-visit-to-saudi-arabia-a-double-blow-to-the-us-1105133813.html
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chinese president xi jinping's visit to saudi arabia, creation of a free trade zone between china and members of gulf cooperation council, relations between beijing and gcc nations, chinese-saudi trade turnover
chinese president xi jinping's visit to saudi arabia, creation of a free trade zone between china and members of gulf cooperation council, relations between beijing and gcc nations, chinese-saudi trade turnover
Xi's Visit to Saudi Arabia: Riyadh & Beijing Consider Creating China-Gulf Free Trade Zone
Chinese President Xi Jinping underscored that Beijing considers Riyadh an important power in the multipolar world and attaches great importance to bolstering a strategic partnership with Saudi Arabia on Thursday.
Riyadh and Beijing are considering the creation of a free trade zone between China and members of
the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) comprising Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), according to Saudi Crown Prince
Mohammed bin Salman.Speaking at the China-Gulf Summit in the Saudi capital on Friday, bin Salman added that the GCC members and Beijing are cooperating to resolve problems pertaining to food and energy security.
![Chinese President Xi Jinping, right, shakes hands with Saudi Prince Salman bin Abdul-Aziz as they pose for photos at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, Thursday, March 13, 2014 Chinese President Xi Jinping, right, shakes hands with Saudi Prince Salman bin Abdul-Aziz as they pose for photos at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, Thursday, March 13, 2014 - Sputnik International, 1920, 07.12.2022](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/103513/70/1035137082_0:400:3001:1600_1920x0_80_0_0_7ebbc0b1524fbcb21fffb1656e1892df.jpg)
7 December 2022, 17:34 GMT
“We are [also] exploring opportunities for cooperation with China in the field of supply chains," the Saudi Crown Prince pointed out.
He stressed that the Friday summit “reflects a mutual desire to enhance Chinese-Gulf cooperation,” and that the gathering “establishes a historic new phase” of relations between Beijing and GCC nations.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, for his part, pledged that his country and the GCC “will work to establish a joint investment council and a center for the security of nuclear energy used for peaceful purposes.”
The remarks followed Saudi and Chinese companies signing at least
34 investment agreements as
part of Xi’s visit to the kingdom, which kicked off on Wednesday.
Saudi Investment Minister Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih was cited by local media as saying that the agreements reflect Riyadh and Beijing’s intention to boost bilateral cooperation in all areas.
The minister added that the kingdom offers "unprecedented" opportunities for investments in various areas, including renewable energy, industry, communications, biotechnology, tourism and construction, as part of the Saudi Vision 2030 — the economic development program to reduce the country's dependence on oil, diversify its economy, and develop various public service sectors.
![In this file photo taken on March 16, 2017 China's President Xi Jinping (L) and Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz (R) attend the Road to the Arab Republic - the closing ceremony for artifacts unearthed in Saudi Arabia, at China National Museum in Beijing In this file photo taken on March 16, 2017 China's President Xi Jinping (L) and Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz (R) attend the Road to the Arab Republic - the closing ceremony for artifacts unearthed in Saudi Arabia, at China National Museum in Beijing - Sputnik International, 1920, 07.12.2022](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/0c/07/1105152668_0:400:3001:1600_1920x0_80_0_0_ad6262639f19ffbf7acfade07baa1205.jpg)
7 December 2022, 11:50 GMT
He was echoed by Xi, who underscored that such a collaboration has broad prospects, and that “China views Saudi Arabia as an important force in the multipolar world and attaches great importance to the development of a comprehensive strategic partnership with Riyadh.”
In 2021, the Chinese-Saudi trade turnover reached 304.3 billion Saudi riyals ($81 billion) — a 37% increase from 2020's 221.6 billion Saudi riyals ($58 billion).