Saudi Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul-Aziz met Ismail Amat, vice
chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's
Congress, China's top legislature, on Tuesday. Both sides spoke
highly of bilateral relations.
Sultan bin Abdul-Aziz, who is also Saudi Arabia's deputy prime
minister and minister of defense and aviation, told Ismail Amat
that the relations between Saudi Arabia and China have developed
rapidly since the two countries established diplomatic ties,
especially over the past five years.
He said Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz's recent visit to
China had met the planned goals. The important visit will further
boost bilateral cooperation.
Ismail Amat said China and Saudi Arabia have expanded their
cooperation in all fields in recent years, and Saudi Arabia has
become China's biggest energy supplier and largest trading partner
in the region of West Asia and North Africa.
He added that King Abdullah's successful visit to China has
deepened mutual understanding and trust and become a new milestone
for the comprehensive development of Sino-Saudi relations.
The Chinese side would like to further strengthen pragmatic
cooperation with Saudi Arabia and push forward the Sino-Saudi
strategic friendly cooperative relations, Ismail Amat said.
On the same day, Ismail Amat also met Salih bin Abdullah bin
Hameed, chairman of the Saudi Consultative Council.
Ismail Amat and the delegation of Chinese lawmakers arrived in
the Red Sea city of Jeddah, in the west of Saudi Arabia, on
Saturday for a working visit at the invitation of the Saudi
Consultative Council.
(Xinhua News Agency January 25, 2006)
