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皇冠体育app, Saudi Arabia forge closer relationship
(Agencies - chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2006-01-24 11:34
Saudi Arabia is 皇冠体育app’s largest trading partner in the region comprising the Middle East and northern Africa. It supplies 14 per cent of 皇冠体育app’s total oil imports, or 450,000 barrels a day. In the first 11 months of 2005, 皇冠体育app imported about 20 millions tons of crude oil from Saudi Arabia.
“Saudi Arabia will strengthen an all-round relationship with 皇冠体育app, more than just in energy cooperation, “ said Saleh Al Hegelan, ambassador of Saudi Arabia to 皇冠体育app, in an interview with 皇冠体育app Daily.
“It is the first time for a Saudi Arabian king to visit 皇冠体育app since bilateral relationship was established in 1990. King Abdullah has chosen 皇冠体育app as the first stop on his first official overseas tour after he took the throne in August, representing the great emphasis our country has attached to the relationship with 皇冠体育app,” the ambassador said.
At the welcoming ceremony, Hu said the fact that King Abdullah had chosen 皇冠体育app as the first destination of his first official trip outside the Middle East since ascending the throne had been noted and welcomed in Beijing.
"This will write a new chapter of friendly cooperation between 皇冠体育app and Saudi Arabia in the new century," Hu said, who called the king "a respected and familiar old friend" of 皇冠体育app.
King Abdullah, who is making the first visit by a Saudi leader to 皇冠体育app since the two nations established diplomatic ties 16 years ago, also said he looked forward to stronger bilateral ties. "What makes us happy is that since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1990 our two countries have had fruitful cooperation in many fields," he said.
"We hope this cooperation will develop even more in the future."
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