Xi Jinping backs Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman

The Chinese president met the heir to the Saudi throne on the sidelines of the G20. No reference was made to the Khashoggi affair. “China firmly supports Saudi Arabia in its push for economic diversification and social reforms,” a Chinese statement says.

Buenos Aires (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Chinese President Xi Jinping has offered his support to Saudi Arabia’s embattled Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the wake of the international outcry over the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Xi, who met the prince on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Buenos Aires, said China would back the kingdom’s economic development, praising its stability as the cornerstone for prosperity and progress in the Gulf.

“China firmly supports Saudi Arabia in its push for economic diversification and social reforms, and provides mutual support on issues involving their core interests,” Xi said in a statement released by China’s Foreign Ministry.

The statement did not mention the Khashoggi murder or the ongoing conflict in Yemen, where Saudi forces have played a leading role.

The Saudi press agency also reported that the crown prince and Xi discussed the partnership between the two countries and ways to harmonise Saudi Arabia’s 2030 vision – a plan to diversify the economy away from oil – with China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

The two leaders also discussed Saudi energy supplies in China and mutual investment.

Saudi Arabia is the world's biggest oil exporter, but has been surpassed by Russia as the top supplier to China in the past two years.

However, the kingdom is set to expand its market share in China this year for the first time since 2012, as new Chinese refiners have increased demand for crude oil.

• china
• saudi arabia
• xi jinping
• mohammed bin salman
• khashoggi
• oil
• trade