“For China, Saudi Arabia is the largest supplier of oil,” says China correspondent Anouk Eigenraam. Today, the Chinese president said that the relationship with the country has been promoted to a priority, Saudi Arabia is seen as the most important partner in the region. So that means something.’
So for that friendship, Saudi Arabia gets all kinds of deals in return. “About $30 billion in deals have been signed, with more on the way,” Eigenraam says. “So it’s a nice win, of course.”
Geopolitics
According to Eigenraam, strengthening the friendship between the two countries is a good example of China’s geopolitical strategy. “China has long tried to form some kind of friendship and power blocs with other countries, which are not necessarily friends of the United States, in order to be able to offer more counterweight to the United States and the West.”
The two countries also jointly agreed on increased cooperation on China’s Belt and Road infrastructure project and raised the bar of the biennial consultations to the premier level, Eigenraam said. “And China will also attend a summit of other Gulf countries during this visit, so I think China will also establish more partnerships with other Gulf countries in the area, thereby increasing its sphere of influence again.”