Saudi Arabia and China are deepening their ties during President Xi Jinping’s visit to the Kingdom
Chinese President Xi Jinping received a lavish welcome as he forged a fresh partnership with King Salman of Saudi Arabia.
The pair signed a memorandum of understanding with Huawei Technologies, which covers cloud computing, and the possibility for high-tech infrastructure in Saudi Arabia.
The U.S. has raised concerns over security risks linked to the Chinese company’s technology.
Xi said Beijing sees Riyadh as “an important force in the multipolar world”.
He explained China and the Arabian region will “continue to hold high the banner of non-interference in internal affairs”.
President Xi’s vehicle was escorted to the king’s palace by members of the Saudi Royal Guard.
They were carrying Chinese and Saudi flags, before the two leaders sat down for a banquet.
U.S. National Security spokesperson, John Kirby said it is “not a surprise” that President Xi is travelling abroad, after his recent visit to Indonesia for the G20 Summit.
“We are mindful of the influence that China is trying to grow around the world. The Middle East is certainly one of those regions where they want to deepen their level of influence,” he said.
The two nations also signed 34 historic deals in relation to green energy, information technology, transport, and construction.
It is understood the agreements amount to $30 billion.
