Beijing: Saudi Crown Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, has started an official visit to the People’s Republic of China, leading an official delegation that includes a number of ministers and officials.

The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported the Crown Prince as saying on arrival in Beijing that his visit comes within the framework of the close relations between the two countries, stressing the desire to strengthen and develop these ties, noting that they have seen a quantum leap since the two historical visits paid to China by King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, in 1998 and 2006.

The Crown Prince emphasised that his visit comes within the framework of the kingdom’s keenness to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in all fields, enhance consultation and coordination between them on regional and international issues of common interest, and support regional and international development.