2017年CRI Saudi King visits China, eyeing expanded cooperation beyond energy

 

Saudi King Salman bin¹ Abdul-Aziz Al Saud was received on arrival at Beijing International Airport by Chinese State Counselor² Yang Jiechi on March 16th, 2017. [Photo: SPA]

Saudi King Salman is now on a four-day trip here to China, with various agreements set to be signed in areas including technology transfers, industry and trade.

The trip here to China is the Saudi King's first visit as his country's head of state. He visited China twice in 1999 and 2014 as crown prince.

Salman's trip this time comes as his Kingdom looks to diversify³ its economy.

China and Saudi Arabia established diplomatic ties in 1990.

Ties between the two sides have been increasing steadily⁴ since then.

China's Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Li Huaxin, says bilateral⁵ relations hit a new high early last year when Chinese President Xi Jinping travelled to Saudi Arabia for a state visit.

"Exchange of visits by the two leaders within just over one year has shown that they attach great importance to bilateral ties. The two countries have signed agreements on cultural cooperation and education among others. I hope we will achieve a series of cooperation results this time," said Li.

China has become Saudi Arabia's largest trading partner, with oil revenues making up a vast majority of the trade volume.

However, the Saudi government has been taking steps to diversify itself out of just oil.

In 2016, Saudi authorities unveiled its "Vision 2030" program, which is designed to reduce its dependence⁶ on energy-related exports and increase its service sector⁷ in areas such as health care, education, recreation and tourism.

This has made China a prime target for potential growth in these areas.

According to Li Shaoxian, Dean of Arab Studies at Ningxia University, the Saudi government's plans fit well with the Chinese government's "Belt and Road" initiative.

"The most import aspect of establishing a comprehensive strategic partnership⁸ between China and Saudi Arabia is to link up the two strategic conceptions proposed by the two—China's 'Belt and Road' initiative and Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030. That is why King Salman's trip to China is so important. It is viewed as a historical visit during which the two sides are going to have in-depth discussions on how to promote cooperation in sectors⁹ of business and natural recourses," Li Shaoxian commented.

Saudi King Salman has already made stops in Malaysia, Indonesia and Japan as part of his current tour.

1 bin   

n.箱柜；vt.放入箱内；[计算机] DOS文件名:二进制目标文件

参考例句：

• He emptied several bags of rice into a bin.他把几袋米倒进大箱里。
• He threw the empty bottles in the bin.他把空瓶子扔进垃圾箱。

2 counselor   

n.顾问，法律顾问

参考例句：

• The counselor gave us some disinterested advice.顾问给了我们一些无私的忠告。
• Chinese commercial counselor's office in foreign countries.中国驻国外商务参赞处。

3 diversify   

v.（使）不同，（使）变得多样化

参考例句：

• Our company is trying to diversify.我们公司正力图往多样化方面发展。
• Hills and woods diversify the landscape.山陵和树木点缀景色。

4 steadily   

adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地

参考例句：

• The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。
• Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。

5 bilateral   

adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的

参考例句：

• They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
• There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。

6 dependence   

n.依靠，依赖；信任，信赖；隶属

参考例句：

• Doctors keep trying to break her dependence of the drug.医生们尽力使她戒除毒瘾。
• He was freed from financial dependence on his parents.他在经济上摆脱了对父母的依赖。

7 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

8 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。

9 sectors   

n.部门( sector的名词复数 )；领域；防御地区；扇形

参考例句：

• Berlin was divided into four sectors after the war. 战后柏林分成了4 个区。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Industry and agriculture are the two important sectors of the national economy. 工业和农业是国民经济的两个重要部门。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》