- Title: Saudi Arabia gears up to welcome China's Xi in Riyadh
- Date: 7th December 2022
- Summary: RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA (DECEMBER 7, 2022) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF SAUDI AND CHINESE FLAGS IN THE STREETS OF RIYADH TRAFFIC ON THE ROADS OF RIYADH VARIOUS OF CHINESE AND ARAB COUNTRY FLAGS VEHICLES DRIVING IN RIYADH VARIOUS OF CHINESE AND SAUDI FLAGS VARIOUS OF ARAB COUNTRY FLAGS TRAFFIC ON THE ROADS OF RIYADH
- Embargoed: 21st December 2022 10:23
- Keywords: CHINA SAUDI ARABIA SUMMIT VISIT
- Location: RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA
- City: RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA
- Country: Saudi Arabia
- Topics: Middle East,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001499707122022RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Saudi Arabia gears up to welcome Chinese President, Xi Jinping, on Wednesday (December 7) who is expected to hold talks with Saudi and Arab leaders during his visit to the kingdom.
Saudi Arabia aims to increase trade with Beijing, discuss regional security and expand superpower ties beyond the increasingly fractious alliance with the United States.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is expected to mark Xi Jinping's arrival with a lavish welcome that diplomats in the region have said may contrast starkly with the muted reception offered to U.S. President Joe Biden in July.
Chafing at what it sees as American disengagement from the Middle East and the Biden administration's hectoring about human rights, the world's biggest oil exporter is reshaping its foreign policy to reflect the new realities of global power.
Besides rolling out the red carpet for bilateral meetings with Xi during his two-day visit, the Saudi rulers will also convene fellow Gulf dynasts for a summit with him, followed by a wider gathering with other Arab leaders.
China sees Saudi Arabia as its key ally in the Middle East due not only to its oil exports but also a shared suspicion of Western interference, especially on issues such as human rights. Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in October that Saudi Arabia was a "priority" in China’s overall and regional diplomatic strategy.
(Production: Mohammad Benmansour, Abir Al Ahmar) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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