Ambassador: Strong trade is tie that binds

Trade between Saudi Arabia and China will reach a record high this year, Saudi Ambassador to China Yahya A. S. Alzaid told China Daily in an exclusive interview.

China and Saudi Arabia achieved a bilateral trade volume of $64.32 billion in 2011, including $49.47 billion worth of imports from Saudi Arabia and $14.86 billion exports from China.

"Two years ago, we set a goal of $60 billion by 2015, so we have achieved that target very early," Alzaid said. "We're looking, in this year, to surpass that."

Both countries have seen rapid progress in energy cooperation. Saudi Arabia is China's largest source for crude oil imports. In 2011, the nation imported more than 50 million tons of oil from Saudi Arabia, an annual increase of 12.6 percent.

The ambassador endorsed the overall progress in various dimensions of bilateral trade and investment.

"We are happy about achievements in both the private sector and the government sector that have continued to improve our relationship," he said.

Also, in the fourth quarter, a joint economic committee of both countries will convene in Beijing, Alzaid said.

Chinese investment in Saudi Arabia is increasing, and basically Saudi Arabia "encourages all aspects of investment," the ambassador said. Saudi Arabia is China's largest trading partner in the Middle East.

"It started early by Saudi companies investing in China in the energy field, and refining and petrochemical sectors, then Chinese companies (started to) invest in Saudi Arabia," he said.

Ambassador Alzaid said Chinese companies, including State-owned petrochemical giant Sinopec, have participated in engineering and contracting services in Saudi Arabia, and they have a "sound reputation".

Statistics show that mechanical equipment, textiles, clothing and electronic products are among China's top exports to Saudi Arabia.

"If you go to Saudi shops, everything you see in front of you is from China. You see furniture, electronic equipment, clothes, toys - all the Chinese products are welcome," Alzaid said.

In the context of the global economic downturn and European debt crisis, China and Saudi Arabia have committed to join hands to weather the financial storm through cooperation and effective policymaking, the ambassador said.

"Both governments made an early shift in policies to cope with the economic crises and somehow managed to evade the effect of the crises because they have made efficient monetary and fiscal policy changes. We're able to weather the crisis," he said. "The effect is much, much less than in the other countries."

All-around cooperation

When it comes to the shared responsibilities and challenges the two nations face in the global arena, both sides have deepened their mutual understanding of and collaboration on regional issues, and Saudi Arabia is seeking more peaceful relations with its neighbors, Alzaid said.

"Our policies have always promoted peaceful solutions and non-interference in other countries," he said. "We're sure that peace prevails in this world."

The world is now facing a lot of environmental problems as well as poverty and natural disasters, including earthquakes, Alzaid said. "We're helping the whole world with the common threats in areas including Asia, Africa and South America."

"Sustainability" and "green energy" remain the watchwords in both countries, and the ambassador hailed the importance of alternative energy for the country's future.

"Saudi Arabia is rich in oil, and also rich in sun. We know that although we're rich in oil resources, they may disappear. We promote the use of alternative energy. Actually, Saudi Arabia more than 40 years ago set up a community powered by solar energy," he said.

China and Saudi Arabia have engaged scientific institutions in joint research in the areas of solar energy, and the two nations are jointly working to train scientists on the subject, he said.

China and Saudi Arabia have enjoyed continually improving bilateral relations and fruitful cooperation in all fields since diplomatic ties were established in 1990.

This year marks the 22nd anniversary of diplomatic relations, and the Sino-Saudi strategic friendship continues to move forward steadily, he said.

"We have worked very hard to achieve the target from both of our leaders to bringing our relations to a level where both countries can enjoy a good and healthy relationship," Alzaid said.

In January this year, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao arrived in Riyadh, capital of Saudi Arabia for an official visit.

Sino-Saudi ties have enjoyed rapid development since the establishment of diplomatic relations 22 years ago, said Wen in a written statement upon arrival at the airport.

Both countries have seen considerable growth in civil exchanges, including swaps of talented students.

Now there are about 1,200 Saudi students studying in China, and Alzaid said the students in the future will be "the ambassadors between China and Saudi Arabia".

"In the last two years, we have signed more than 30 agreements concerning Saudi and Chinese universities. We have accepted more than 40 talented Chinese students to attend King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, and their studies there are focused on the future."

He said there will be a youth meeting between Saudi and Chinese youth during Saudi Arabia's national day on Sept 24, and he said the Saudi-Chinese youth forum in Beijing not only promotes social interaction but also paves the way for understanding between two peoples.

Cultural cooperation and people-to-people exchanges went smoothly between the two countries.

In 2010, more than 13,000 Chinese Muslims were organized to make pilgrimages to Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia took an active part in the Shanghai World Expo and spent $150 million on its pavilion. The Saudi Pavilion was one of the most popular during the expo and received more than 4 million visitors.