Saudi ambassador talks of China-Saudi friendship

By Du Wenjuan (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2009-04-30 14:46

Fostering exchanges

This February, a group of 12 students, including six from the quake zone, visited Saudi Arabia during President Hu Jintao's three-day visit to the Mideast country. More and more students and cultural exchanges are something "we are really happy to see going on," the ambassador said.

About 10 years ago, there were only 20 to 25 students from Saudi Arabia studying in China, but the number is now close to 400. "I think by the end of this year it could reach 500," the ambassador said, adding, "They'll become excellent ties between Saudi Arabia and China."

"Today as we speak, there are 20 students from King Fahd University, Dhahran visiting China. This year the King Abdullah University for Science and Technology, a graduate-level research university, will inaugurate their first year of education, and they have already submitted 50 students from China," the ambassador said proudly.

The ambassador also said religious exchanges will boost friendly communication between the two countries.

"The Chinese pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia reached a level of about 12,000 plus last year and we probably would see much more in the future. Chinese Muslims can contribute to promoting a relationship between China and Saudi Arabia, and particularly China and the Islamic world in general."

Ambassador Al-Zaid added that Saudis are looking forward to the Shanghai World Expo and seeing the participation of Saudi Arabia.

As well, "we are planning to hold a cultural week this year or next year. There will be much more extensive activities of cultural presentations of Saudi Arabia," said the ambassador.

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