Xi Jinping's Visit to Saudi Arabia Next Week, Welcome Ceremony as Grand as Trump's Level

President Xi Jinping meeting with the Saudi King who visited China in March 2017.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-seop] Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia next week.

According to major foreign media on the 11th, a welcoming ceremony is planned in Saudi Arabia as part of President Xi's visit schedule. Foreign media reported that the event will be as grand as when former U.S. President Donald Trump visited Saudi Arabia in 2017. They also noted that this warm reception contrasts with the treatment of U.S. President Joe Biden during his visit to Saudi Arabia in June.

If President Xi visits Saudi Arabia as reported, it will be his first foreign trip in 2 years and 7 months since his visit to Myanmar in January 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic began to spread widely. During the visit, President Xi is expected to hold a summit with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. This is interpreted as a symbolic move by China to expand its influence in the Indo-Pacific region, in contrast to the U.S. withdrawing from the Middle East.

China's policy to strengthen energy security is also expected to draw attention. Although Russia remains China's largest crude oil supplier this year due to China's increased purchases of inexpensive Russian oil, Saudi Arabia had been China's largest crude oil supplier until last year, indicating its significant influence.

For Saudi Arabia, an alternative to the U.S. is urgently needed amid the unstable Middle East situation. Saudi Arabia has shown a pro-China stance on various issues such as the treatment of the Uyghur Muslim minority in Xinjiang and the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law. It is also known to be actively participating in the expansion of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa), the group of five emerging economies led by China.

Meanwhile, Wang Wenbin, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated at a regular briefing on the same day that when asked to confirm the report, "There is no news to announce at this time."