China not to change determination to deepen strategic cooperation with Saudi Arabia

BEIJING - China will not change its determination to deepen strategic cooperation with Saudi Arabia, no matter how the international and regional situation alters, Chinese President Xi Jinping told Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in a phone conversation Thursday.

Xi said China and Saudi Arabia are comprehensive strategic partners with deepening strategic mutual trust and win-win cooperation.

China supports Saudi Arabia's efforts to safeguard national sovereignty and realize greater development.

China is also willing to work with Saudi Arabia to deepen strategic cooperation, advance the strategic integration of the Belt and Road Initiative and Saudi Arabia's development blueprint Saudi Vision 2030, and conduct cooperation in a variety of areas through the China-Saudi Arabia High-level Joint Committee, Xi said.

The Belt and Road Initiative, which comprises the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road, was proposed by Xi in 2013 with the aim of building a trade, investment and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along and beyond the ancient Silk Road trade routes.

In a bid to diversify its oil-dependent economy, Saudi Arabia announced the Saudi Vision 2030 growth strategy last year, which includes privatizing some state-owned companies.