Chinese performers sing Chinese folk songs during the Qemam International Festival for Mountain Performance Arts, at a village of Aseer region, Saudi Arabia, Jan 25, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

A Shenzhen delegation led by Mayor Qin Weizhong paid a visit to Saudi Arabia from Wednesday through yesterday to deepen cooperation and make contributions to the development of a China-Saudi Arabia comprehensive strategic partnership.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping. As the largest economy among the Arab countries, Saudi Arabia was one of the first countries to respond to and actively participate in the initiative.

Shenzhen will also create favorable conditions for Saudi enterprises and talents to come to Shenzhen for development and entrepreneurship to contribute to both the Belt and Road Initiative and Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030

Qin talked in Riyadh with Munir M. Eldesouki, president of the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology; Ali Mohammed Alshaikhi, vice-minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture; Abdullah Al-Saadoun, head of Saudi Aramco government affairs; and delivered a speech at an economic, trade, scientific and technological exchange.

READ MORE: Saudi ambassador lauds Beijing's role in regional economy, peace

He said that, in December last year, President Xi paid a state visit to Saudi Arabia and signed the China-Saudi Arabia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement with King Salman, opening a new stage in the development of China-Saudi Arabia relations. 

Saudi Arabia is a very important partner of Shenzhen, and Shenzhen will implement the significant consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, strengthen cooperation with Saudi Arabia in new energy, digital economy, smart city, infrastructure, finance, science and technology innovation, culture, sports and tourism.

It will continuously deepen the interaction between the two sides in economic, trade and investment exchanges, actively assisting in the diversified development of Saudi Arabia's economy and industrialization.

Shenzhen will also create favorable conditions for Saudi enterprises and talents to come to Shenzhen for development and entrepreneurship to contribute to both the Belt and Road Initiative and Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030.

Eldesouki; Chen Weiqing, Chinese ambassador to Saudi Arabia; Saleh AI Khabti, vice-minister of Investment of Saudi Arabia; and Tony Chan, president of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST); delivered speeches at the exchange. 

Representatives of Saudi Aramco, Ajlan & Bros, Mindray, Hytera and other enterprises from the fields of energy, transportation, science and technology, trade, and services of both countries participated in the exchange activities.

READ MORE: S. Arabia says glad to expand ties with China in industry, mining

KAUST in Saudi Arabia is a renowned research-oriented university. Qin visited the university and met with its president, witnessing the signing of six MoUs between KAUST and six Shenzhen institutions, including The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen (CHUK-Shenzhen) and Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School (SIGS). 

The two sides said that they will further explore the potential of cooperation, consolidate and expand the cooperation in science and technology innovation, emerging industries, higher education and other areas, and work together to carry out academic exchanges, collaborative innovation, technology commercialization and innovative business incubation.

During the stay in Saudi Arabia, the delegation visited King Abdullah Economic City, one of the four major special economic zones of the country, and King Abdullah Port to exchange views on smart ports, 5G communications, digital energy and other fields. The delegation also learned about the world's largest off-grid photovoltaic energy storage project in Red Sea New City and the planning of NEOM New City.