Saudi Arabia signs initial deals with China on prince’s visit

Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to Saudi Arabia in January, reaching a consensus on various issues with Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

Although there were no new commitments in the public statement from the military, the Prime Minister Office in a statement said: “PM Sharif and Saudi defence minister pledged to further enhance the bilateral ties between the two brotherly countries and strengthen their cooperation in diverse fields”.

MoUs were signed in the energy sector, on oil storage, on cooperation in mining and housing development, on cultural cooperation, on cooperation in water resources and on product quality control, supervision, testing and quarantine, and cooperation on translation and publication of literary and classical works.

Prince Mohammed met China’s vice premier Zhang Gaoli on Tuesday, state news agency SPA reported.

This is the second visit of the Saudi defence minister to Islamabad.

Al-Huqail also signed a memorandum of cooperation between the ministry and Ningxia Region in China to develop Al-Asfar outskirts in Al-Ahsa Province and build 100,000 housing units. The deputy crown prince is scheduled to visit Japan between August 31 and September 3 to meet Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. But the problems are still there and thousands of stranded Pakistani workers are suffering severe situation in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Industrial Cities Authority (MODON) on Wednesday signed two memorandums of understanding with the Administrative Authority for Economic and Technological Development Zones in Tianjin and the Investment Holding Company Ltd.in Tianjin (TEDA).

Saudi officials will also discuss energy cooperation agreements with Japan, the Saudi cabinet said last week.