On February 12, 2009, Chinese President Hu Jintao ended his state visit to Saudi Arabia and left Riyadh for Mali, the second stop on his "journey of friendship and cooperation."

On the evening of February 10, Hu had talks with Saudi Arabian King Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz. The two leaders agreed to fully deepen the China-Saudi Arabia strategic friendly ties and work together to address the global financial crisis. President Hu and the king also agreed to enhance communication and consultations on important international and regional issues and push the bilateral ties to a new higher level.

During the visit, both sides signed five cooperation deals on energy, health, quarantine, transportation and culture. In Riyadh, President Hu also met Abdul Rahman Al-Attiya, Secretary-General of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC), and discussed group cooperation between China and GCC. President Hu also visited a plant of the Riyadh Cement Company, which was constructed by China's Sinoma International Engineering Co. Ltd., as well as the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology.

Since China and Saudi Arabia established diplomatic ties in 1990, bilateral relations between the two countries have developed steadily. In particular in recent years, bilateral ties have achieved comprehensive, rapid development and both sides have established strategic friendly relations. Saudi Arabia has remained China's largest trading partner in West Asia and North Africa in successive years, with two-way trade hitting 41.8 billion U.S. dollars in 2008.

Saudi Arabia is the first leg on his "journey of friendship and cooperation." Besides Mali, President Hu will also visit three other African countries -- Senegal, Tanzania and Mauritius.