Xi Jinping Speaks with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on the Phone

On the morning of April 15, 2022, President Xi Jinping had a phone conversation with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Xi Jinping asked Mohammed to convey his greetings to King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. Xi Jinping pointed out that given the profound and complicated changes in the international and regional situations, the strategic and overarching significance of China-Saudi Arabia relations has become more evident. Over the past year, China and Saudi Arabia have made joint efforts to promote the new development of bilateral relations. The Chinese side gives priority to developing relations with Saudi Arabia, and stands ready to work with Saudi Arabia to continuously deepen China-Saudi Arabia comprehensive strategic partnership and bring more benefits to the two countries and the two peoples.

Xi Jinping stressed, the Chinese side supports Saudi Arabia in safeguarding national sovereignty, security and stability, and independently exploring a development path suited to its own national conditions. China will continue to promote the synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 and forge a high-level cooperation pattern between the two countries in such fields as energy, economy and trade as well as high technology. The Chinese side supports Saudi Arabia's "Middle East Green Initiative" and welcomes Saudi Arabia's participation in the Global Development Initiative. China and Saudi Arabia should strengthen solidarity, practice true multilateralism, safeguard the international system with the United Nations (UN) at its core, the international order underpinned by international law, the basic norms governing international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and uphold international fairness and justice as well as the common interests of developing countries. China is ready to work with Saudi Arabia to promote peace and stability in the Middle East region, push for an early conclusion of the China-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) free trade area agreement and jointly build a China-Arab community with a shared future in the new era.

Mohammed conveyed King Salman's greetings to Xi Jinping, and once again congratulated China on the success of the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022. Mohammed said, China is an important comprehensive strategic partner of Saudi Arabia. In recent years, Saudi Arabia-China ties have seen great progress in various fields and China has provided a model of economic development and political stability for countries worldwide. Saudi Arabia attaches great importance to China's status and to the development of its relations with China, and firmly adheres to the one-China principle. Saudi Arabia will continue to staunchly support China's legitimate positions on such issues concerning core interests as Xinjiang, resolutely oppose any interference in China's internal affairs, and firmly safeguard the rights of all countries to independently choose their own political and human rights paths. Saudi Arabia is willing to work with China to enhance high-level exchanges, sign agreements to synergize Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 with the Belt and Road cooperation, and deepen cooperation in such fields as economy, trade, transportation, infrastructure and energy. Saudi Arabia stands ready to strengthen communication and coordination with China in international and regional affairs, supports China's just positions on major international and regional issues, and supports the League of Arab States and the GCC in enhancing cooperation with China.

The two leaders also exchanged views on the situation in Ukraine.