China's No. 2 signs strategic accord with Saudis on first official trip
Tuesday, July 1, 2008 Free Headline Alerts
ABU DHABI — China and Saudi Arabia have signed a declaration to strengthen strategic cooperation during a visit to Saudi Arabia by Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping and likely successor to President Hu Jintao.
"I have selected Saudi Arabia for my first foreign visit in order to promote our ties," Xi said. "The situation is favorable for further growth of economic cooperation in diverse fields between the Kingdom and China."
Saudi Arabia has been a leading oil supplier to China. Xi, accompanied by more than 200 Chinese business representatives, said Riyad has been China's largest economic partner in the Middle East, with annual trade of more than $25 billion. China has also helped explore and develop natural gas resources in the Arab kingdom.
China has also been regarded as a supplier of strategic missiles to the Saudi kingdom. In 1988, Beijing was said to have exported up to 12 launchers and 50 missiles of the CSS-2 intermediate-range ballistic missile system.
Western intelligence sources said Riyad has sought for China to either upgrade or replace the CSS-2 missile. They said any new Chinese intermediate-range ballistic missile to China could be designed to carry nuclear warheads.
"We in Saudi Arabia consider China an important and effective partner," Saudi Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, who is also the kingdom's defense minister, said.
"We look forward to a bright future in our relations against the backdrop of our two countries' historic and cultural heritages and huge economic and cultural potentials," Sultan told Xi on June 21.
Neither Sultan nor Xi referred to defense cooperation between Beijing and Riyad. The two leaders did not specify plans for future cooperation.
"There are currently 57 Saudi-Chinese joint projects with a total capital of two billion Saudi riyal apart from contracts to explore and manufacture natural gas in the Al-Ruba Al Khali and Saudi Aramco's participation in oil projects in China," Saudi Commerce and Industry Minister Abdullah Zainal Alireza said.