Saudi Arabia seizes chance to deepen cultural ties with China: Ambassador

Saudi Arabia and China are deepening their comprehensive strategic partnership with this year's China-Saudi Arabia Year of Culture, marking a milestone in cultural collaboration, alongside significant advances in trade and investment, says Saudi Arabia's ambassador to China, Abdulrahman bin Ahmed Al-Harbi.

"As part of the comprehensive strategic partnership, Saudi Arabia and China are exploring collaboration opportunities across all sectors, including trade, investment and culture," he told China Daily. "This year's China-Saudi Arabia Cultural Year is a milestone, marking a new focus in our cooperation."

China and Saudi Arabia are key trading partners, China being Saudi Arabia's largest and Saudi Arabia being China's largest in the Middle East. Last year China issued its first sovereign bond in the Middle East in Saudi Arabia, and this year the two countries will co-host the first China-Saudi Arabia Year of Culture.