Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) shakes hands with visiting Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Jan. 23, 2006.

China and Saudi Arabia agreed Monday in Beijing to further increase bilateral substantial cooperation and promote the in-depth development of bilateral strategic friendship and cooperation.

President Hu Jintao and visiting King of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz held talks Monday afternoon at the Great Hall of the People and they spoke highly of bilateral relations.

Although the forging of diplomatic ties between China and Saudi Arabia is not long ago, bilateral ties have progressed smoothly with a frequent exchanges of high-level visits and enhancing mutual understanding and trust.

Bilateral cooperation in economy, trade and energy has witnessed remarkable results, said Hu, adding that Saudi Arabia has become China's biggest trade partner in west Asia and north Africa.

Meanwhile, he acknowledged, the two countries have conducted fruitful cooperation in the spheres of culture, science, technology and security, and sound cooperation with wide-ranging consensus on major international and regional issues.

Hu appreciated and thanked Saudi Arabia for its valuable support for China on the Taiwan issue.

The Chinese side attaches great importance to the growth of bilateral strategic friendship and cooperation and will work with the Saudi Arabian side to turn the two countries into good friends and good partners with a long-term friendship and overall cooperation, said Hu.

Abdullah, who is here on a three-day state visit as Hu's guest, said the two countries have had fruitful cooperation in various fields since the forging of their diplomatic ties in 1990.

He said China has made great achievements in its modernization drive and is playing a positive role in international and regional affairs.

Saudi Arabia treasures the deep friendship with China, and it will continue to abide by the one-China policy and promote the further development of bilateral friendship and cooperation, said Abdullah.

Hu made a four-point proposal on furthering bilateral relations and substantial cooperation in various fields.

The first is to enhance mutual trust and bilateral political relations, said Hu. The two countries should keep high-level contacts, conduct close dialogues and consultations at various levels, support each other for their efforts to safeguard sovereignty and territorial integrity, and continue strengthening mutual support and cooperation in international and regional affairs.

The second is to strengthen energy cooperation to mutual benefit, Hu said. The Chinese side will make joint efforts with Saudi Arabia to conduct all-dimensional cooperation in the energy field and continuously improve bilateral energy dialogue mechanism and cooperation.

The third is to expand economic and trade cooperation while exploiting their advantages, Hu noted. The Chinese side will step up bilateral cooperation in the fields of infrastructure, telecommunications, finance and investment, and encourage bilateral economic and trade intercourses at various levels and between different institutions.

The fourth is to develop friendship and cultural exchanges. The Chinese side will, under the new circumstances, strengthen bilateral exchanges in culture, education, science, technology and press, and promote dialogues and exchanges between different civilizations, he said.

Echoing Hu, Abdullah said his visit has helped increase political mutual trust and he is confident in the broad prospects for bilateral cooperation.

Abdullah said Saudi Arabia will promote bilateral high-level contacts and political dialogues, maintain contacts and consultations in international and regional affairs, advance bilateral reciprocal cooperation in economy, energy and infrastructure, and encourage cultural exchanges.

The two heads of state also had an exchange of views on the situations in the Middle East and the Gulf Region.

After the talks, the two sides signed a protocol on bilateral cooperation in petroleum, natural gas and minerals, as well as several other cooperative documents concerning economy and the training of professionals.

Source: Xinhua