Xi Jinping has told Mohammed bin Salman that China is ready to deepen cooperation with Saudi Arabia, in a move highlighting growing geopolitical and economic ties between Beijing and Riyadh.
According to official statements, the two sides discussed expanding cooperation in key sectors including energy, trade, and strategic investment. The engagement reflects China’s expanding role in the Middle East, a region historically influenced by the United States.
Analysts say closer China–Saudi cooperation could have wider implications for the global economic system, particularly the long-standing dominance of the US dollar in oil trade, known as the “petrodollar” system. However, experts caution that any shift away from dollar-based transactions would likely be gradual and complex rather than immediate.
The development comes amid a broader realignment of global alliances, as Middle Eastern countries increasingly diversify their international partnerships and balance relations between major powers. Saudi Arabia has in recent years pursued a more multi-aligned foreign policy, strengthening ties with both Western and Eastern blocs.
While some observers see the growing relationship as a step toward a more multipolar world order, others warn it could intensify strategic competition among global powers. Analysts note that influence in the international system remains fluid, with no single bloc currently holding uncontested dominance.
The latest discussions underline the continuing transformation of global relations, as emerging partnerships reshape traditional power structures and redefine the balance of international influence.
