Xi takes ‘strategic high view’ and backs Saudi’s embattled crown prince

President Xi Jinping has offered his support to Saudi Arabia’s embattled Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the wake of the international outcry over the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Xi met the prince on the sidelines of the G20 summit on Friday and said China would support the kingdom’s economic development, adding that stability was the cornerstone for prosperity and progress in the Gulf.

Xi said in a statement released by the foreign ministry that Beijing was taking a “strategic high view and long-term perspective”.

“China firmly supports Saudi Arabia in its push for economic diversification and social reforms, and provides mutual support on issues involving their core interests,” he said.

The statement did not mention the Khashoggi murder or the conflict in Yemen, where Saudi forces have played a leading role.

The Saudi press agency reported early yesterday that the crown prince and Xi had discussed the partnership between the two countries and ways to harmonise Saudi Arabia’s 2030 vision – a plan to diversify the economy away from oil – with China’s “Belt and Road Initiative”.

They were also reported to have discussed energy supplies to China and mutual investment.

The meeting between Xi and the crown prince came as the kingdom is facing mounting calls for sanctions over the death of Khashoggi, a critic of Saudi leaders, at its Istanbul consulate.

On Thursday, Canada imposed sanctions on 17 Saudi nationals accused of being involved in the murder of Khashoggi, following similar moves by France, the United States and Germany.

The CIA has said that Prince Mohammed, Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader, ordered the murder. However, US President Donald Trump has dismissed the assessment and stressed that he values US ties with the kingdom.

Riyadh gave numerous contradictory explanations about the fate of Khashoggi, who disappeared after entering the consulate in Istanbul on October 2.

The Saudis claimed most recently that Khashoggi had been killed and his body dismembered after failed negotiations to persuade him to return to the kingdom. The Saudis have blamed rogue agents for the killing and charged 11 people with murder.

China firmly supports Saudi Arabia in its push for economic diversification PRESIDENT XI JINPING

Saudi Arabia, the biggest global oil exporter, has been surpassed by Russia as the main crude supplier to China in the past two years. However, the kingdom is set to expand its market share in China this year for the first time since 2012, as new Chinese refiners have increased demand for crude oil.

Saudi Arabia has long sought to diversify from its reliance on the US and has stepped up its engagement with China, its largest trading partner with US$42.36 billion in bilateral trade last year.

The two countries signed US$65 billion worth of deals last March in areas ranging from energy to space technology.