The program of the Chinese President’s visit includes holding 3 summits:
- A Saudi-Chinese summit chaired by King Salman bin Abdulaziz and the Chinese president, with the participation of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
- The “Riyadh-Gulf-Chinese Summit for Cooperation and Development” with the participation of leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
- The “Riyadh-Chinese Cooperation and Development Summit”, with the participation of leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council and Arab countries.
- The three summits discuss strengthening relations in all fields.
New twist
The former Egyptian ambassador to Beijing, Ali Al-Hefni, considered the Chinese president’s visit to Saudi Arabia as a new development in relations.
He continued his speech to “Sky News Arabia” that the three summits are taking place in complex circumstances, a turbulent international economic situation, and existential challenges, especially with regard to climate change.
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In detail, Al-Hefny explains:
- The visit ushers in a new phase of relations after the launch of the first phase with the establishment of the China-Arab Cooperation Forum in 2004.
- In 2013, the Chinese president announced the “Belt and Road” initiative, and the majority of Arab countries participate in it.
- The summits draw up an upcoming “road map” for cooperation in the political, economic, technical and scientific fields.
- Attention to achieving the principle of self-reliance and self-sufficiency is a top priority to ensure better response to recurrence of crises.
- Promote cooperation in the transition to green energy and the green economy.
- Supporting economic relations between the Arab countries and China, as the summit is expected to witness the signing of the joint action plan for the strategic dialogue between the Gulf Cooperation Council and China between 2022-2025.
strategic partnership
Regarding the agreements expected to be concluded, the Saudi Press Agency reported that:
- More than 20 preliminary agreements will be signed, with a value exceeding 110 billion riyals, equivalent to 29 billion dollars.
- The signing of the strategic partnership document between the Kingdom and China, and the harmonization plan between the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 and the Belt and Road Initiative.
- The launch of the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Award for Cultural Cooperation between Saudi Arabia and China will be announced.
Mutual support on major issues
From the political point of view, a specialist in Chinese studies at Shanghai University and the former Sudanese ambassador to Beijing, Jaafar Karrar Ahmed, says in an analysis published by Al-Ahram Center for Studies, that the Arab-Chinese summit will confirm:
- Increase coordination in international forums.
- Arab leaders are expected to announce their support for Chinese initiatives such as the Belt and Road, the Global Development Initiative, and the Global Security Initiative.
- The summit is expected to result in a unified position on the war in Ukraine based on support for a peaceful settlement.
- China will support Arab countries in their endeavor to establish a zone free of nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East.
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