On July 21, 2010, Chinese President Hu Jintao and King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia exchanged congratulatory messages to mark the 20th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
President Hu said the Sino-Saudi Arabian relationship had seen comprehensive and in-depth development since the establishment of diplomatic ties 20 years ago. President Hu and King Abdullah exchanged visits successfully in 2006, exchanging important consensus on establishing and developing China-Saudi Arabia strategic friendly relations, which lifted bilateral ties to a new level. "The Chinese government and its people have always viewed the bilateral ties from a strategic perspective," he said. "As the international situation is undergoing complex and profound changes, it is in the fundamental interests of both countries and their people as well as conducive to world peace, stability and development to strengthen and consolidate Sino-Saudi Arabian relations, properly deal with regional hotspot issues, and jointly meet various global challenges," Hu said. "I would like to join hands with Your Majesty to continue increasing political mutual trust, expand pragmatic cooperation in all fields and advance Sino-Saudi Arabian strategic friendship to a higher level," he said.
In his message, King Abdullah highly commended the development of Sino-Saudi Arabian strategic friendship and cooperation in all sectors, adding that his country would like to advance bilateral relations to an even higher level to achieve common aspiration of both sides and benefit the two countries and their peoples.
On the same day, Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping also exchanged congratulatory messages with Saudi Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz on the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties.
Xi said in the message the two countries had witnessed ever-expanding cooperation in such fields as politics, trade, energy and culture as well as deepened mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples in the past 20 years. He also said China attached great importance to strategic friendly relations with Saudi Arabia and would like to take the anniversary as an opportunity to work with Saudi Arabia in deepening cooperation and promoting greater achievement.
The Crown Prince Sultan in his message appreciated the development of Saudi Arabia-China strategic friendly relations and cooperation in all areas. He said he expected to deepen the bilateral relationship so that it could bring more benefits to the two countries and their peoples.
Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi also exchanged congratulatory messages with his Saudi Arabian counterpart, Prince Saud Al Faisal.