Newsnomics AJAY ANGELINA reporter | Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to arrive in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Thursday for a two-day state visit that include China-Arab summit and a China-GCC conference amid high tensions between the United States and the two countries, according to a source with knowledge of the trip, an Arab diplomatic source and two senior Arab officials.
China-Arab summit is expecting at least 14 Arab heads of state to give their appearance, according to the Arab diplomatic source who described the trip as a “milestone” for Arab-Chinese relations.
The Chinese delegation is expected to sign dozens of agreements with Saudi Arabia and other Arab states covering energy, security and investments, diplomats have told Reuters.
The Saudi government communications office did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Xi's visit or summit timing because they were not authorized to speak to the media. Also, the Chinese foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a query on Xi's trip.
Rumors of a Chinese presidential visit to the US’ largest Middle East ally have been circulating for months but are yet to be confirmed by the governments of Saudi Arabia and China.
Beijing has not made an official announcement that Xi will visit Saudi Arabia. CNN is reaching out to China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comment.
Xi's trip comes against the backdrop of US strained ties with both China and Saudi Arabia over differences on human rights and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, uncertainty weighs on global energy markets with the West imposing a price cap on Russian oil and as Washington warily eyes China's growing influence in the Middle East.
However, Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies have said they would continue to diversify partnerships to serve economic and security interests, despite U.S. reservations about their ties with both Russia and China.
