CONTEMPORARY EURASIA VOLUME VI (1) Contemporary-Eurasia-VI-1-engl | Page 50

ARAM ABAJYAN
years period former President Hu Jintao made his second trip to
Kingdom in January 2009. During this visit along with other issues Hu
Jintao and his Saudi colleague King Abdullah agreed on putting
mutual efforts on the program of ‘reforming global financial
institutions’. The two leaders came to an agreement to work together
on this ambitious plan, as well as adopt new rules and regulations for
facing challenges of global financial system mutually. They also
coordinated their policies for the coming April 2009 G-20 summit 30 .
After ascending the throne in Saudi Arabia King Abdullah visited
Asian region in 2006 for the first time. It is worth pointing out that
China was also included in his Asian tour. Moreover, since
establishment of Sino-Saudi diplomatic ties in 1990 this became the
first visit of a Saudi ruler to Beijing. In July 2004 then Kuwaiti Prime
Minister and the current Emir Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah visited
China, and the two sides confirmed their interests and readiness for
expanding mutual cooperation. The main purpose of Emir’s visit was
to enhance pragmatic cooperation at governmental, non-governmental,
as well as enterprise levels. Meanwhile, he expressed Kuwaiti desire
that official Beijing would support and encourage economic various
programs in the Gulf region in general, and in Kuwait in particular.
Some other important figures from the GCC states come to China
became Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and also ruler of
Dubai Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum in 2007, as well
as Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar Shaikh Hamad Bin
Jassim Al-Thani and Saudi Crown Prince and Defense, Aviation
Minister Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud. Both two officials
visited China in 2008. During the Prince’s visit two pacts were signed
to encouraging and strengthening Sino-Saudi economic cooperation
and strategic ties 31 .
Kuwait continued to foster its economic ties and cooperation with
China, and in 2005 Kuwait-China Investment Company was created in
accordance with further development of Sino-Kuwaiti partnership.
Saudi Arabia together with its Saudi Basic Industries Corporation
Cheng J., China’s Relations, op. cit., p. 48.
Ibid, p. 45.
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