Saudi Arabia has strengthened its ties with China as the country signed 15 preliminary agreements in various sectors including energy and housing on Tuesday during a visit of the deputy crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to China.

Mohammed met with Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli in Beijing and signed cooperative documents covering culture, energy, finance, housing, investment, politics, quality inspection, science, technology, and water resources, Xinhua reported.

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"During the meeting, the strategic relationships and future opportunities to enhance the existing partnership between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and China were reviewed," state news agency SPA said.

The said visit paved the way for the two nations to announce a comprehensive strategic partnership and establish a high-level steering committee to guide and coordinate cooperation.

Zhang said that China sees its bilateral ties with Saudi from a strategic and long-term perspective, emphasizing that Saudi Arabia plays as an important cooperative partner for China in the West Asia and the North African region.

Meanwhile, Mohammed said that Saudi Arabia's partnership with China is viewed with strategic importance as well, noting that both nations enjoy great possibilities for cooperation. He called on both sides to strengthen coordination, jointly fight against terrorism, and advocate international and regional peace and stability.

In April, Mohammed launched radical economic reforms meant to develop non-oil industries in Saudi Arabia, according to Alarabiya. These reforms attracted billions of dollars of investments, and banks from China and Japan are anticipated to play major roles in the process.

In January, China's President Xi Jinping paid a visit to Saudi Arabia, reaching consensus on different issues with Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saudi.

Mohammed, who arrived in China on Monday, is on his second leg of a three-day Asia tour that began in Islamabad, Pakistan, Arab News reported. The deputy crown prince is scheduled to visit Japan between Aug. 31 and Sept. 3 to meet Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

TagsSaudi Arabia, china, preliminary agreements, bilateral ties