Visitors taste Saudi coffee during the Saudi Tourism Festival at the Temple of Heaven Park in Beijing on Oct 21. The festival, held from Oct 18 to 26, featured interactive booths and live performances. (DU JIANPO/FOR CHINA DAILY)

Saudi Arabia's Tourism Minister Ahmed Al Khateeb has emphasized the robust political and economic ties between China and Saudi Arabia, expressing hopes for deeper cultural and tourism exchanges to further enhance bilateral relations and mutual prosperity.

Describing the relationship as "amazing", Al Khateeb said China is Saudi Arabia's main trade partner, with Chinese construction companies and investors actively involved in his country's Vision 2030 projects.

Since 2001, Saudi Arabia has been China's largest trading partner in the Middle East, and in 2013, China became Saudi Arabia's top partner overall. Bilateral trade reached $107.23 billion last year, surpassing $100 billion for the second consecutive year and accounting for more than 35 percent of China's trade with Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

In 2022, China and Saudi Arabia signed agreements to align China's Belt and Road Initiative with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, alongside cooperation documents in energy, investment and education. This has accelerated their collaboration, with a current focus on expanding cultural and tourism cooperation to enhance people-to-people connections.

Al Khateeb emphasized the importance of cultural exchanges, which play a crucial role in both the BRI and Vision 2030. "Both countries are completely aligned to connect the Middle East with the East and build bridges," the minister said during his visit to Beijing on Oct 17.

He expressed a strong desire to expand travel and tourism ties with China, highlighting Saudi Arabia's range of attractions — from seaside resorts and historic sites to modern cities and sports events — that appeal to Chinese tourists.

In the first half of this year, more than 100,000 Chinese tourists visited Saudi Arabia, a 29 percent increase year-on-year. The influx of Chinese tourists, both for leisure and business, has had a profound effect on Saudi Arabia's tourism sector, Al Khateeb said.

Easier travel

To attract more Chinese tourists, Saudi Arabia has launched initiatives to make travel easier, including simplified visa processes, Chinese signage at airports and increased flight frequencies.

It has also been granted Approved Destination Status for Chinese group tours since July 1, with major Chinese travel agencies launching Saudi tour packages.

"We are working with the Chinese government to expand the training program for Mandarin-speaking tour guides," Al Khateeb said.

Chinese language education has rapidly developed in Saudi Arabia, with four universities now offering Chinese majors and the Confucius Institute at Prince Sultan University in Riyadh opening in June last year. The Education Ministry has also introduced Chinese language education in schools across six regions.

"We have more than 1,000 Saudi students studying in China, who will help us develop the tourism industry," Al Khateeb said. "Additionally, we have received about 180 teachers from China to teach Chinese in public primary and middle schools."

Saudi Arabia is also embracing Chinese culture, with widespread Chinese restaurants and the Chinatown in Riyadh's Boulevard World zone.

"Saudis are very familiar with Chinese culture," Al Khateeb said. "China now stands as one of the top destinations for Saudis. In the past, many Saudis visited China for business; in recent years, we are encouraging more Saudis to visit China for leisure."

China welcomed more than 20,000 Saudi tourists last year, and the number is expected to continue growing, supported by initiatives to boost tourism and deepen bilateral relations, according to Saudi tourism authorities.

"In the old days, we had the Silk Road connecting Saudi Arabia and the Arab Peninsula with China," Al Khateeb said.

"Now, we are rebuilding and reinventing that history by connecting the Middle East, Saudi Arabia, with China. We want Saudis to enjoy Chinese culture while inviting the Chinese to experience the Arabian culture represented by Saudi Arabia."