China and Saudi Arabia pledge deeper hi-tech cooperation despite US pressure

Saudi Arabia has pledged to deepen hi-tech cooperation with China in areas such as new energy and artificial intelligence (AI).

“Saudi Arabia is willing to further deepen cooperation with China in areas including oil and gas, new energy, artificial intelligence and high technology, to bring greater benefits to the peoples of both countries,” Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said, according to China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The pledge comes at a time when the kingdom is facing growing scrutiny from the United States over its technology cooperation with Beijing.

China has shown its influence in the Middle East by brokering a deal between the Saudis and their long-term rivals Iran to restore diplomatic relations. Iran has also been accepted as a member of the Beijing-led Brics group of emerging economies but has yet to formally join.

Meanwhile, the US has tried to keep Saudi Arabia onside, to counterbalance Saudi ties with China and to maintain influence amid regional tensions with Iran.

Riyadh’s ties with Washington cooled under Joe Biden due to US arms restrictions linked to human rights concerns and the Gaza war, reportedly stalling a bilateral defence treaty linked to Saudi-Israeli normalisation.

South China Morning Post