Trade and Economic Cooperation between Saudi Arabia and China (the 2010s)

Abstract

The past two decades have seen significant shifts in global economic and geopolitical trends. One manifestation of these changes was the noticeable strengthening of China’s role in the international arena, which allowed the country to launch in 2013 a very ambitious initiative “One Belt, One Road – BRI”, also known as “Th e New Silk Road”. The article deals with various aspects of trade and economic cooperation between Saudi Arabia and China within the framework of the new Chinese initiative. The author examines the priority areas of the kingdom’s economic relations with China, considers the most important projects that were implemented in the 2010s, both in Saudi Arabia and China. The article analyzes the contracts and agreements concluded between the two countries, which are currently being implemented as well as those planned for the foreseeable future. Besides, special attention is paid to the kingdom’s interest in enhancing economic cooperation with China to meet the targets of Saudi Vision 2030, a strategic plan, and the role that China assigns to Saudi Arabia in achieving the goals of the BRI.