Johannesburg, South Africa — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Saudi counterpart, Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, met on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting to celebrate 35 years of diplomatic relations and to chart a path for future cooperation.
Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, emphasized the significance of the China-Saudi Arabia partnership. “Our relations have stood the test of time and are now at the forefront of China’s relations with Middle Eastern countries,” he said.
The two leaders discussed expanding collaboration in key sectors such as economy, trade, investment, new energy, digital economy, information and telecommunications, and high-end manufacturing. “China is willing to maintain exchanges at all levels and elevate our relations to new heights,” Wang Yi stated.
Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud expressed similar sentiments, noting that Saudi Arabia and China are comprehensive strategic partners. “Our relations are of vital importance,” he said. “We look forward to strengthening high-level exchanges and achieving more success in our bilateral relations.”
The ministers also addressed regional issues, reaffirming their commitment to peace and stability in the Middle East. They agreed on the importance of resolving differences through dialogue and emphasized their support for the Palestinian people.
“Saudi Arabia highly appreciates China’s adherence to principles and commitment to justice regarding the Palestinian-Israeli issue,” Faisal noted. “We hope and believe that China will continue to play a positive role for peace in the Middle East.”
Both sides agreed to enhance communication and coordination to achieve more concrete results in China-Arab and China-Gulf cooperation, aiming to benefit not only their own countries but the broader region as well.
