Saudi King to visit China to discuss oil
(AP)
Updated: 2006-01-18 14:41

Saudi King Abdullah will visit China and is expected to discuss possible cooperation in oil and energy security, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.

Next week's visit will be the first to China by a Saudi top leader since the two countries formed diplomatic relations in 1990, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan.

Abdullah will meet with President Hu Jintao, Kong said. The spokesman said he didn't know whether the king would be accompanied by the Saudi oil minister or other officials on the two-day visit that is set to begin on Jan. 22.

"On energy security, oil, I believe the two sides will discuss beneficial cooperation," Kong said.

China and Saudi Arabia have dramatically expanded commercial ties in recent years as Beijing tries to expand energy supplies for its booming economy.

The main Saudi government oil company, a Chinese producer and Exxon Mobil Corp. are partners in a $3.5 billion project to expand a refinery in southern China.

Total trade between the two countries — much of it Saudi oil bought by China — grew by 59 percent in the first 11 months of 2005 to $14 billion, according to Kong.