Chinese President Xi Jinping (69) is visiting Saudi Arabia. Because China loves Saudi oil. China has signed 20 contracts worth $30 billion. Because China depends on oil from the Middle East. And wants to use Saudi Arabia’s chilled relations with the US and expand the relationship.
The Chinese president was honored as a good friend. and spoke of a “new era of collaboration”.
Two million barrels of oil less
The timing of the trip – it is Xi Jinping’s third trip abroad since the corona outbreak – is not surprising. At the beginning of this week, the OPEC countries, led by Saudi Arabia, decided to limit their oil production. Two million barrels of oil per day are currently flowing less. This worries China, one of the largest buyers of Saudi oil.
It’s not just about the black gold, though. Because Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (37) wants to modernize his kingdom. It is about investing in telecommunications technology. Above all, China’s Huawei, which is highly controversial in the US, should play a role. The Saudis also need help in the construction sector and with green technologies.
Uyghurs are not a problem
And since the Saudis, China is a less dangerous partner than the US. The Saudis care little about “China’s internal affairs”. In the kingdom, there is hardly any criticism of the treatment of the Uyghur Muslim minority in Xinjiang province. (pbe)