China and Saudi Arabia Sign Mutual Visa Waiver Agreement
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi traveled to Riyadh at the invitation of his Saudi counterpart, Faisal bin Farhan, to bolster bilateral relations and cooperation.
During the visit, the two countries finalized a mutual visa waiver agreement for holders of political, service, and special passports. Discussions also covered the strategic relationship between China and Saudi Arabia, with both sides expressing satisfaction with the current level of cooperation.
The Saudi side reaffirmed its commitment to a unified China policy, stating that Taiwan is an inseparable part of Chinese territory.
The growing alignment between Saudi Arabia and China is considered a significant geopolitical development, reshaping their relationship and impacting the global balance of power. This cooperation poses strategic and security challenges for the United States, which has historically viewed Saudi Arabia as a cornerstone of its security architecture in the Middle East since the 1940s. The Riyadh-Washington alliance has been a key tool for U.S. influence in the region.
Saudi Arabia’s participation in Belt and Road Initiative projects, the creation of joint transportation corridors, and Riyadh’s role as an energy hub connecting Asia, Africa, and Europe enable China to expand its influence from East Asia into the heart of the Middle East, establishing economic dependencies that alter the regional power balance.
From a defense perspective, China-Saudi cooperation presents a challenge for Washington, as Saudi Arabia, traditionally a major buyer of U.S. arms, now procures a significant portion of its military needs from China.
