An aerial drone photo taken on Aug. 12, 2024 shows the Marjan Offshore GOSP-4 Tie-in Platform in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. The platform built by China Offshore Oil Engineering Company (COOEC) was completed in Qingdao on Monday. This oil and gas collecting and transferring platform, with a weight exceeding 17,000 tonnes, is expected to collect and transport 24 million tonnes of crude oil and 7.4 billion cubic meters of associated gas every year. (PHOTO: XINHUA)

By GONG Qian

Situated along the coast of the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia, the 28,000-square-kilometer Red Sea project is a "regenerative tourism destination" poised to be fully powered by 100 percent renewable energy. As one of the highlights of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, the project will comprise 50 hotels and up to 1,000 residences by 2030 as Saudi Arabia aims to diversify its economy away from oil dependence and improve local environment.

Chinese companies are contributing to the initiative. For example, China Harbour Engineering Company has undertaken several construction projects including environmental improvement, piling construction for a hotel, and access channel dredging. Huawei is in charge of constructing a photovoltaic storage microgrid, which will be the largest station in the world, featuring a 400MW solar PV system and a 1.3GWh energy storage system.

Since China and Saudi Arabia established a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2016, they have strengthened their energy cooperation and promoted the development of renewable energy.

China is Saudi Arabia's most important crude oil export market and its largest trading partner. Stable cooperation in oil trade not only ensures a steady supply of petroleum for China but also promotes economic growth in Saudi Arabia.

The Yanbu Aramco Sinopec Refining Company (YASREF) Ltd., the first overseas joint venture between China's largest oil refiner Sinopec and Saudi Arabia's oil giant Aramco, is a world-class, full-conversion refinery in the Yanbu Industrial City in western Saudi Arabia.

According to Sinopec, since its operation in 2016, YASREF has not only generated substantial economic benefits for Saudi Arabia, but also nurtured skilled technicians and management professionals and created multiple jobs.

In 2022, China and Saudi Arabia signed an agreement to synergize the BRI with Vision 2030 to deepen cooperation in such fields as economy, trade, transportation, infrastructure and energy. In January 2024, Saudi Arabia along with Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates officially joined BRICS as full members, making a historic, new starting point for cooperation.

Recently, Saudi Arabia has initiated Chinese language classes in primary and middle schools, following an education agreement signed by the two countries in 2023.  Over 170 educators are teaching Mandarin in the kingdom. This is in line with China's growing importance in the global economy and the thriving trade and economic ties between the two nations, according to the Arab News website.