Saudi Arabia, China to enhance economic, trade ties
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Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz held talks on Sunday with visiting Chinese Commerce Minister Chen Deming on further boosting economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.
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Saudi Arabian King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud (R) shakes hands with Chinese Minister of Commerce Chen Deming during their meeting in Riyadh, capital of Saudi Arabia, Jan. 10, 2010. [Xinhua/SPA] |
The king said Saudi Arabia and China enjoy deep traditional friendship and substantial exchange, and that the strategic friendly relations between the two countries have been consolidated and deepened.
China's economy develops rapidly, and the two countries should further their cooperation in various fields, such as in dealing with the fallout of the global financial crisis, he said.
The king said Riyadh welcomes the Chinese enterprises to actively participate in Saudi economy as the Gulf Arab country is speeding up construction in the petrochemical industry, infrastructure, education and health fields.
Abdullah said that he believes that the Saudi-Sino economic and trade cooperation will have a brighter prospect.
The Chinese minister said Chinese President Hu Jintao last year paid a successful visit to Saudi Arabia, which has vigorously boosted the economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.
As this year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Saudi Arabia, the Chinese government is expecting to expand the bilateral economic and trade cooperation, in hopes of boosting the bilateral trade volume to 60 billion U.S. dollars by 2015, Chen added.
Chen said the Chinese government appreciates the trust of the Saudi king and the Saudi government in Chinese enterprises, and will work together with the Saudi side to support contract projects and investment cooperation between enterprises of both countries in the electricity, railway and new energy fields.
Also in the day, Chen, together with Saudi Minister of Finance Ibrahim bin Abdel Aziz al-Asaf, convened the fourth meeting of China-Saudi joint committee on economy and trade in the Saudi capital.
Chen arrived in Riyadh on Saturday and will visit Ethiopia, Mozambique and Tanzania later.
