China and Saudi Arabia Strengthen Ties on 35th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations

In a statement marking the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Saudi Arabia, Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Chang Hua outlined the significant progress made in the relationship between the two countries. The first diplomatic relations were established on July 21, 1990, and over the past three and a half decades, the relationship has been built on mutual respect, equality, and win-win cooperation.

Key Takeaways:

• China and Saudi Arabia have made significant progress in their relations, with pragmatic cooperation yielding fruitful results and cultural exchanges becoming increasingly close.
• The two countries have a solid foundation for their relationship, built on mutual respect, equality, and win-win cooperation.
• Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the relationship has maintained stable and healthy development, with both sides firmly supporting each other's core interests and major concerns.
• In 2016, President Xi Jinping visited Saudi Arabia and jointly announced with King Salman the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.
• In 2017, King Salman visited China, and in 2022, President Xi Jinping visited Saudi Arabia again and signed the China-Saudi Arabia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement with King Salman.
• The China-Saudi Arabia High-Level Committee has held four meetings to promote the in-depth docking of the development strategies of the two countries.
• China-Saudi Arabia trade volume reached US$107.5 billion in 2024, an increase of more than 210 times compared with the trade volume of only US$500 million when the two countries established diplomatic relations.
• The two sides have achieved highlights in cooperation in new fields such as digital economy, green development, artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, and finance.
• China has tried a unilateral visa-free policy for Saudi Arabia, with 29 direct flights per week between China and Saudi Arabia.
• The first "China-Saudi Arabia Cultural Year" has been launched, with nearly 40 colorful activities in many fields such as culture, art, education, and film and television.
• The people-to-people bond is the source of the development of China-Saudi Arabia relations, with frequent exchanges and cultural cooperation between the two countries.

Statistics:

• China-Saudi Arabia trade volume reached US$107.5 billion in 2024, an increase of more than 210 times compared with the trade volume of only US$500 million in 1990.
• China is Saudi Arabia's largest trading partner, and Saudi Arabia is China's largest trading partner and main source of energy supply in West Asia and North Africa.
• In 2022, President Xi Jinping and King Salman signed the China-Saudi Arabia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement, marking a new stage in the development of bilateral relations.
• The China-Saudi Arabia High-Level Committee has held four meetings to promote the in-depth docking of the development strategies of the two countries.
• China has a unilateral visa-free policy for Saudi Arabia, with 29 direct flights per week between China and Saudi Arabia.

Sources:

• "Inheriting Friendship and Creating a Better Future" signed article by Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Chang Hua, published in the Riyadh Newspaper on July 21, 2025.