Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the China-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit and delivers a keynote speech titled "Building on Past Achievements and Jointly Creating a Brighter Future of China-GCC Relations", in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Dec 9, 2022. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

RIYADH - Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday said that China and states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are natural partners for cooperation.

In his speech at the China-GCC summit held here, Xi called on the two sides to be partners in promoting unity, development, security and civilizations.

Xi also proposed five major areas for cooperation in the next three to five years, including energy, finance and investment, innovation and new technologies, as well as aerospace, and language and cultures

Xi also proposed five major areas for cooperation in the next three to five years, including energy, finance and investment, innovation and new technologies, as well as aerospace, and language and cultures.

Energy cooperation

Xi called on China and GCC states to build a multidimensional energy cooperation paradigm.

China will continue to import more crude oil and liquefied natural gas from GCC countries and strengthen cooperation in oil and gas development as well as in clean and low-carbon energy technologies, Xi said.

He also called on the two sides to carry out oil and gas trade settlement in RMB and push for new progress in financial and investment cooperation.

ALSO READ: China firmly backs GCC in safeguarding security, stability

The Chinese side is ready to work with GCC countries to strengthen investment cooperation in digital economy and green development, establish a working mechanism for bilateral investment and economic cooperation, and deepen cooperation in digital currency, Xi said.

He called for joint efforts GCC states to expand new areas of cooperation in innovation and science and technology.

Xi said China stands ready to work with GCC states to build a big data and cloud computing center, and strengthen technical cooperation in 5G and 6G.

China is willing to make joint efforts with GCC countries to construct a batch of incubators for innovation and start-up businesses, and implement 10 digital economy projects related to cross-border e-commerce cooperation and communication network construction, Xi noted.

READ MORE: Xi says China ready to accelerate FTA negotiation with GCC

He added that China also would like to establish a cooperative mechanism with GCC countries on meteorological science and technology, and jointly hold seminars on climate change.

Space cooperation

Xi called on China and GCC states to work together to achieve new breakthroughs in space cooperation.

China stands ready to cooperate with GCC countries in such areas as remote sensing satellites and communication satellites, space applications, space infrastructure, as well as astronaut selection and training, Xi said.

He welcomed astronauts from GCC countries to China's space station, fly together with Chinese astronauts and carry out space science experiments with their Chinese counterparts.