January 27, 2006

FRUITFUL TALKS BETWEEN THE CUSTODIAN OF THE TWO HOLY MOSQUES AND THE HEADS OF THE CHINESE STATE COUNCIL AND THE NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS. KING ABDULLAH: CHINA IS A FRIENDLY COUNTRY, OUR BILATERAL RELATIONS ARE STRONG AND SOUND. HEADS OF THE CHINESE STATE COUNCIL AND THE NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS PRAISE THE OUTCOME OF THE VISIT. PRINCE SAUD AL-FAISAL: CHINA IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT MARKETS FOR OIL AND SAUDI OIL IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT SOURCES OF ENERGY FOR CHINA. The Head of the Chinese State Council Wen Jiabao received the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz. At the meeting attended by the official delegations of the Kingdom and China, Wen Jiabao welcomed Custodian of the Two Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aiziz and said his visit to China embodies his keenness on further enhancing relations with China. Highlighting the fostering Saudi-Chinese relations, Wen Jiabao said the Kingdom has become the biggest trade partner of China in West Asia and North Africa. 'The current visit of Custodian of the Two Mosques Abdullah to China will give a strong impetus to bilateral relations, and will positively contribute to enhancing cooperation in the economic sectors', he said Wen Jiabao expressed appreciation for the Kingdom's adherence to the principle of 'One China', and said China is keen on cementing its relations with all GCC member states in all domains. On his part, King Abdullah hoped that the visit would contribute to strengthening diplomatic and economic relations between the Kingdom and China' 'We do respect China and the Chinese people', said King Abdullah. Developments at the regional and international arenas as well as bilateral relations were reviewed by the two sides. Later Wen Jiabao hosted a luncheon in honor of King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz and the accompanying delegation. The National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, actively supports the development of economic and trade cooperation with Saudi Arabia, its Standing Committee Chairman Wu Bangguo said. Wu made the remarks during his meeting with King Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Wu said China and Saudi Arabia have been friends for a long, long time, and the friendly relations between the people of the two countries play a vital role in promoting exchanges between Oriental and Western civilization. As developing countries and major powers in Asia, both China and Saudi Arabia are devoted to domestic economic growth and external peace keeping. The two countries hold similar stances on many important issues and share a wide range of common interests, Wu noted. The two countries are strongly complementary in terms of their economies and have broad prospects for economic cooperation, Wu acknowledged, saying that the NPC actively supports the mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Saudi Arabia in economy and trade. Wu said the NPC is ready to further beef up its exchanges with the Saudi Consultative Council, in an effort to enhance the friendly relations between the two countries and their people. King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz said Saudi Arabia attaches great importance to its relations with China, and is satisfied with the current sound development of bilateral relations. This visit will help the two sides deepen the exchange of high-level visits, increase mutual understanding, broaden consensus and spur substantial cooperation, the king said, expressing the conviction that joint efforts by both countries would lead to further progress in bilateral relations to the benefit of the two peoples. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz received at his guest residence in Beijing the Chairman and members of the Saudi Chambers of Commerce and businessmen currently visiting China as part of the Custodian of the Two Mosques' accompanying delegation. The monarch also received Saudi personnel and students currently working or studying in China respectively. At the outset of the meeting, Abdul Rahman Al Rashid, Chairman of the Saudi Chambers of Commerce, spoke about the activities of the Saudi businessmen during the current visit in China as they took part in the Saudi Chinese Joint Business Council. He briefed the meeting on the outcome of the council's meeting, including the signing of a number of commercial deals, and further boosting the Saudi economy. He said the Saudi delegation was encouraged by the enthusiasm reflected by the Chinese side to invest in the Kingdom. On his part, the monarch told them that he met with the President of China Hu Jintao and briefed them on the contents of the meeting, including the talks in the field of economy and joint investment in the two countries. The Custodian of the Two Mosques said the Saudi and Chinese views were identical with the Chinese President expressing desire to enhance cooperation in the economic field between the two countries and hailing the Saudi businessmen and Saudi companies for their credibility and transparency. King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz thanked the president for his sincere feeling towards the Kingdom and its people. The monarch underscored the role to be played by businessmen in creating job opportunities for Saudi job seekers. He said the Saudi state is strong, thanks to Allah Almighty, and its citizens who are sincere to their religion, country and nation. He underlined the role to be played by banks and businessmen to contribute to charity and humanitarian projects. He described the students as the men of future. The Custodian of the two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz received a delegation from the Chinese Islamic society and the institute of Islamic studies in China. The chairman of the Chinese Islamic society expressed happiness for the visit of Custodian of the Two Mosques Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz to China, and said Muslims in China do appreciate the services being extended by the kingdom to Muslims, especially to the pilgrims. King Abdullah expressed appreciations for the heartfelt feelings voiced by the members of the delegation. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz said 'we do respect you because you are our Muslim brethren'. He urged them to adhere to the teachings of their religion taking into account the importance of respecting their country. Later the members of the delegation extended a memorial present to King Abdullah. The meeting was attended by King Abdullah's official accompanying delegation. Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal said before the signing ceremonies of five major bilateral agreements the main interest of both nations. "China is one of the most important markets for oil and Saudi oil is one of the most important sources of energy for China," said the prince who is accompanying the king. Prince Saud said the energy deal would set the framework for specific energy investments, but agreements on the projects would have to be signed between the two countries' oil companies. He indicated specific agreements would soon be signed. Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said the agreements would be implemented shortly. "There is a great deal of understanding between the two countries on all issues including Middle East, Iraq and the Iranian nuclear program," he said. Li said King Abdullah's visit coincided with the beginning of both the Hijri and Chinese new years. President Hu has accepted an invitation from the king to visit Saudi Arabia, he added. Chinese Foreign Minister LI Zhaoxing commended the meeting held here today between the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz Al Saud and China's President Hu Jintao, describing the meeting as very cordial. In a meeting held with chief editors of the Saudi press and attended by the Minister of Culture and Information Iyad Ibn Amin Madani, he said that King Abdullah invited the Chinese President to visit the Kingdom and the Chinese President accepted the invitation, noting that diplomatic channels in the two countries are prepared for coordinating the visit. The Chinese Minister pointed out that the Chinese President said that the King's visit has had three priorities since it is the first one by a Saudi King to China, the first foreign visit after the King's ascension to the throne and China as the first leg of his tour. He noted that these priorities clearly show the King's keenness on developing relations with China. Minister Li stressed that the two leaders' approaches have been identical with regard to many issues including the Middle East, Iraq and Iran's nuclear issue. He added that before the meeting between the King and the Chinese President, he held a meeting with Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the Foreign Minister and they agreed to exert joint efforts and to implement the directives and identical stands of the two leaders. China and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have been friends and good partners, Minister Li said and affirmed that the mutual political confidence, economic cooperation and cultural contacts have been steadily growing after the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The Chinese Foreign Minister expressed his country's pride of friendship with the Kingdom, expressing his country's readiness to exert joint efforts with friends in the Kingdom to make this friendship an example to be followed in dealing between South and South countries. He emphasized that this friendship will yield great benefit for the two peoples, peace, stability and development in the region and the world. He thanked the Kingdom for supporting his country in many issues topped by Taiwan issue, for committing to this issue and supporting the unification of China. The Chinese Foreign Minister also expressed his thanks to the Kingdom for supporting Beijing's nomination to host Olympiad 2008 and for the Kingdom's role in activating cooperation between China and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states. The Custodian of the two Holy Mosques Custodian of the Two Mosques Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz left China for India after an official visit to the People's Republic of China in response to an invitation from Chinese President Hu Jintao. King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz was seen off at Beijing International Airport by Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Lee Jin Jan, Saudi Ambassador to China Salih Al-Hujailan, Chinese Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Wu Chun Hua and a number of senior Chinese officials.