Natural partner seen for Gulf

Chinese tech can aid diversification goals of Saudis, Emiratis, experts say

As Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates intensify their efforts to diversify their economies and seek growth through innovation, cooperation with China will remain important, experts say.

Given its commitment to "win-win cooperation" and the broad engagements of the China-proposed Belt and Road global infrastructure program, the economic giant can help accelerate the rollout of advanced technologies in the Middle East region, they said.

Deniz Istikbal, an economic researcher at the Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research, a think tank in Ankara, told China Daily that as one of the world's largest spenders on research and development, "China is important for Western Asian countries".