Saudi Arabia is willing to strengthen cooperation with China, Saudi Foreign Minister Saud binal-Faisal said in Riyadh Sunday when meeting with a delegation of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

 

Faisal, who gave a warm welcome to the delegation led by Head of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee Wang Jiarui, spoke highly of the traditional friendship between the two countries, noting that Saudi-China relations were developing steadily and constantly.

 

The visit by Saudi Arabian King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz to China in January further promoted cooperation between the two countries, Faisal said.

 

Wang said the four-point proposal President Hu Jintao made when meeting with King Abdullah had marked out a direction for bilateral relations and cooperation in various fields.

 

The CPC and the Chinese government are willing to make joint efforts with Saudi Arabia to advance cooperation, Wang added.

 

They also exchanged views on the situation in the Middle East and Iran's nuclear issue.

 

The CPC delegation arrived in Riyadh on Thursday at the invitation of the Consultative Council of Saudi Arabia. They left for the Red Sea city Jeddah on Sunday and were scheduled to leave for Beijing on Monday.

 

(Xinhua News Agency March 13, 2006)