In a new step reflecting the depth of the growing relations between Riyadh and Beijing, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia witnessed a high-level diplomatic movement, as His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Minister of Foreign Affairs, received his Chinese counterpart, His Excellency Mr. Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, who arrived in the Kingdom on an official visit on 23 Jumada al-Thani 1447 AH, corresponding to 14 December 2025 AD.
Signing of the visa exemption agreement
This visit culminated in the signing of a significant agreement aimed at facilitating official communication between the two countries. The two sides concluded an agreement on "mutual visa exemption for holders of diplomatic, special, and service passports." This step removes procedural obstacles for official delegations, thereby streamlining reciprocal visits and accelerating coordination on various shared issues, reflecting the high level of political trust between the two leaderships.
35 years of diplomatic relations
This visit is of particular importance as it coincides with the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the People's Republic of China. During their discussions, the two ministers reviewed the trajectory of these relations, which have evolved from limited trade cooperation to a comprehensive strategic partnership. Both sides commended the significant convergence of views and the qualitative leaps achieved in the fields of economy, energy, and investment, serving the interests of both friendly nations.
Political consensus and mutual support
During the fifth meeting of the Political Committee emanating from the Saudi-Chinese Joint Committee, both sides affirmed the principle of mutual support on vital issues. The Kingdom reiterated its firm commitment to the "One China" policy, emphasizing that Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory. In turn, Beijing commended the Kingdom's leading role in promoting regional security and expressed its continued support for the development of Saudi-Iranian relations, an area in which China has played a prominent role as a trusted international mediator.
Future prospects: From Vision 2030 to the summits of 2026
The two sides discussed aligning Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 with China’s Belt and Road Initiative, with the Chinese side commending the Kingdom’s major economic transformations. They also addressed future commitments, with Saudi Arabia expressing its support for China hosting the second China-Arab Summit and the second Gulf-China Summit, both scheduled for 2026, while China affirmed its readiness to actively participate in Expo 2030 Riyadh.
The stance on regional issues
On the international front, the Palestinian issue took center stage, with both sides affirming their full support for efforts to find a just and comprehensive solution that guarantees the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with international law and the Arab Peace Initiative, stressing the need to continue political coordination to serve international peace and security.
