Beijing and Riyadh have discussed establishing a free-trade zone with the Persian Gulf states
© AFP / Bandar Al-Jaloud / Saudi Royal Palace / AFP
China and Saudi Arabia have discussed the creation of a free-trade zone between Beijing and the member states of the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC), Al-Arabiya reported on Friday, citing Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
“We have discussed the creation of a free-trade zone between China and the countries of the Persian Gulf,” the crown prince announced, speaking at a Chinese-Arab summit that kicked off in Riyadh.
The Gulf states and Beijing are also planning to cooperate on solving “problems of food and energy security,” and “…exploring the possibility of cooperation with China in the field of supply chains,” bin Salman added.
China’s President Xi Jinping arrived in the Saudi capital on Wednesday, holding separate talks with Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi the following day. He is attending the Sino-Arab summit that will reportedly bring together 30 leaders of Arab nations and organizations.
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