RIYADH: China’s new Foreign Minister Qin Gang wants to build stronger ties with Saudi Arabia and establish a China-Gulf Free Trade Zone “as soon as possible”, according to a ministry statement published late on Monday.
Qin, who was just recently nominated to the post, made the suggestion in a telephonic conversation with his Saudi Arabian counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, adding that China should focus on issues related to China’s core interests. Highly appreciates Saudi Arabia’s continued steadfast support.
He said the two sides should further expand cooperation on economy, trade, energy, infrastructure, investment, finance and high technology.
In addition, Qin stressed the continuous strengthening of the China-Gulf strategic partnership and the “early construction of the China-Gulf Free Trade Area”.
During the phone call, Prince Faisal congratulated Qin Gang on his new position as foreign minister, and the two officials reviewed Saudi-China relations.
Prince Faisal said that Saudi Arabia regards relations with China as an important cornerstone of foreign relations, and Saudi Arabia firmly adheres to the One-China principle, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry statement.
They also discussed bilateral cooperation, efforts made in connection with these events to enhance development, security and stability in regional and international events, and the most important issues of common concern.
According to state media, Qin recently concluded a tour of several African countries and also held telephonic talks with Dutch Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra and Argentine Foreign Minister Santiago Cafiero.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received a phone call from Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday.
During the call, both the leaders reviewed bilateral relations and ways to develop them in various fields.
Several issues of common concern were also discussed.
According to Reuters, Saudi Arabia remains the top supplier of crude oil to China in 2022.
The Kingdom shipped a total of 87.49 million tonnes of crude oil to China in 2022, equivalent to 1.75 million bpd, customs data showed, equivalent to 2021 levels.
China’s state-backed oil refiners have largely completed their contract with Saudi Arabia in 2022 despite sluggish domestic demand.
Following President Xi Jinping’s visit to Riyadh in December, where he told Gulf leaders that China would work to buy oil in Chinese yuan instead of US dollars, Saudi Arabia has become a major, if not a major, crude exporter to China. Hope to stay.
(with inputs from Reuters)