Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to the kingdom Yang Honglin said Saudi-Chinese relations have witnessed fast development and growth over the 18 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. He stated that the visit of the Chinese President Hu Jintoa to the kingdom on Tuesday will boost the relations of friendship and strategic relations between the two countries. In a press meeting he held today on this occasion, the Chinese ambassador said the kingdom will be the first country President Hu Jintoa will visit at the beginning of 2009 as the first stop of his Asian and African tour. It will also be his second visit to the kingdom since his first visit in April 2006 reflecting the Chinese great interest in Saudi-Chinese relations, the ambassador said. The ambassador added that during the visit, the two sides will discuss ways of boosting cooperation between the two countries in all fields as well as the international and regional issues of common interest. The ambassador highlighted the two visits paid by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz to China in 1998 and 2006 and the visits by the Chinese leaders to the kingdom saying the visits boosted cooperation between the two countries in all fields. The ambassador reviewed trade and cultural relations between the two countries hailing the major role by the kingdom in the region.
