RIYADH: King of Bahrain Hamad bin Issa Al Khalifa along with his delegation on Friday, arrived in Saudi Arabia to attend the Gulf-China Summit in Riyadh for Development and Cooperation. The Gulf-China summit is scheduled to take place today in Riyadh.
At King Khalid International Airport, the King was received by Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Governor of Riyadh Region; Prince Sultan bin Ahmed bin Abdulaziz, Saudi Ambassador to Bahrain; Shaikh Ali Abdulrahman bin Ali Al Khalifa, Bahrain’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, and Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Dr. Nayef Falah Mubarak Al-Hajraf.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is currently on a crucial visit to Saudi Arabia, where is scheduled to attend the Gulf-China summit in Riyadh. The Chinese president is expected to finalize several deals with Arab countries during his visit to Riyadh.
Saudi govt signs Huawei deal ahead of Gulf-China summit
Saudi Arabia and China outlined deepening ties on Thursday in a series of strategic plans during President Xi Jinping’s visit, including a partnership with technology giant Huawei, a growing player in the Gulf region that has raised security concerns in the United States.
King Salman signed a “comprehensive partnership agreement” with Xi, which received a critical reception in a country more engaged in new global relations than the West. Saudi royal guards riding Arab horses and carrying Chinese and Saudi flags escorted Xi’s car to the palace.
The Chinese leader spoke with President Mohammed bin Salman, the oil giant, who greeted him with a smile. The two entered a pavilion as a military band played the country’s national anthem.
Saudi King signs comprehensive deal with China
The United States, watching China’s influence grow and its relations with Riyadh diminish, said on Wednesday that Xi’s trip is an example of China’s efforts to influence the world and it will not change. US Policy for the Middle East.
The agreement with Chinese company Huawei Technologies, on cloud computing and the construction of modern buildings in the Saudi city, was obtained despite the concerns of the US and Gulf partners about possible security risks associated with it and to use technology of Chinese companies.
Huawei is involved in building 5G networks in several Gulf states despite US concerns.
Following its international recognition, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates said on Thursday that the president and the president of the United Arab Emirates jointly made an amnesty effort that resulted in the release of the American star of basketball Brittney Griner as part. of the prisoner exchange in Russia.
China and Arab countries “will continue to raise the standard of non-interference in internal affairs, (and) support each other in protecting sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he wrote.
Xi, who will meet with other Gulf oil producers and attend a broader meeting of Arab leaders on Friday, said these states are “banks of energy for the world economy and suitable ground for development.” of high-tech companies” . “. Several regional leaders, including Egypt’s prime minister, Kuwait’s crown prince and Sudan’s leader, arrived in Riyadh on Thursday.
Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries such as the United Arab Emirates have said that they will not choose sides among world powers and are dividing their partners to serve their economic interests and national security.
China, the world’s largest energy trader, is the Gulf state’s biggest trading partner and ties between the two have grown as the region prepares for economic reforms, prompting anger from the United States for intervention. Chinese and Gulf infrastructure.
Saudi Arabia’s energy minister said on Wednesday that Riyadh will remain an energy partner of “trust and confidence” for Beijing and that the two will strengthen cooperation in the power chain by establishing a regional and kingdom for Chinese company.
Chinese and Saudi companies also signed 34 investment agreements in green energy, information technology, cloud services, transportation, construction and other sectors, the SPA news agency said. He did not give any figures, but he said that the two countries will bring an initial agreement worth $ 30 billion.
Tang Tianbo, an expert on the Middle East at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR) – a think tank linked to the Chinese government – said that the visit will lead to an increase in energy cooperation.
In the past, Xi Jinping began a visit to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday that Beijing said was his biggest diplomatic signal to the Arab world, as Riyadh expands global ties over long-term relations with the West.
The White House said Xi’s visit was an example of China’s efforts to influence, and would not change US policy toward the Middle East. – SPA/APP
