China Tells Saudi Arabia: "We Are Your Most Reliable Partner"

China's top diplomat has told Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince that Beijing is ready to be the Kingdom's "most reliable and dependable" partner. The statement followed a meeting between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh. It signals a deepening of strategic ties between the world's largest oil exporter and its top crude oil customer. Both sides also expressed support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. They backed a solution based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as the capital. The high-level talks underscore China's growing diplomatic influence in the Middle East. They highlight its focus on securing energy supplies and building political alliances.