Saudi Arabia Looks East: Woos China and India by Dr. Harsh V. Pant

The fact that China was the first destination on the king's list speaks volumes not only about the rising profile of China in global politics, but also about a growing intimacy between the two states. China has been working hard to improve its relations with Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest oil exporter. It was in 2004 that the two countries decided to hold regular political consultations at the same time when China's state oil company, Sinopec, signed a deal to explore gas in Saudi Arabia's vast Empty Quarter. King Abdullah's visit followed Beijing's first formal talks with the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (O.P.E.C.) in December 2005.