ABU DHABI — China and Saudi Arabia have signed defense and
security agreements that strengthened the strategic relations between the two
Asian powers.
The accords were signed during the visit by Chinese President Hu Jintao
to Riyad over the weekend, Middle East Newsline reported. Hu, arriving on April 22, has sought to offer
Chinese weapons and technology in exchange for greater access to the Saudi
crude oil market.
"This will further strengthen the friendship between our two countries
and our two peoples as well as expand strategic and friendly cooperation
between China and Saudi Arabia," Hu said.
Over the last few weeks, China and Saudi Arabia have accelerated
cooperation in defense and energy relations. In January 2006, Saudi King
Abdullah signed a memorandum of understanding during his visit to China, the
first by a Saudi monarch since the two countries established diplomatic
relations in 1990.
"For China, the kingdom is a strategic trade partner that can respond to
China's need for sources of fuel that no other source can provide in terms
of quantity and price," Saudi analyst Talal Bannan wrote in the Okaz daily.
"On the other hand, China, with its technology, can cater to the needs of
the Saudi market by providing it with quality products at competitive
prices."
In the 1980s, China was said to have supplied Riyad with
intermediate-range ballistic missiles through Pakistan. An estimated 50 CSS2
missiles were supplied to the kingdom but were rapidly deemed as obsolete.
The security cooperation agreement was signed by Interior Minister
Prince Nayef Bin Abdul Aziz and Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing. The
defense accord was initialed Saudi Deputy Defense Minister Prince Khaled Bin
Sultan and China North Industries Group.
During his visit, Hu met Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz. Sultan is
also Saudi Arabia's defense minister, who has been promoting closer defense
cooperation with such allies as Pakistan and Singapore.
Officials did not cite any defense or security cooperation plans. China
has been protecting Sudan's oil sector from insurgency attacks.
