RIYADH - China puts the development of relations with Saudi Arabia as a priority in its overall diplomacy, especially in its Middle East diplomacy, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said here on Wednesday.

The premier made the remarks when meeting with Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, and co-chairing the Fourth Meeting of the High-Level Chinese-Saudi Joint Committee with him.

During their talks, Li first conveyed Chinese President Xi Jinping's warm greetings to Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and the Crown Prince.

He highlighted that under the strategic guidance of the two countries' leaders, China and Saudi Arabia have maintained mutual respect, trust, and benefit, as well as mutual learning and understanding. The bilateral relationship has developed comprehensively, rapidly, and deeply, with fruitful results in various areas of cooperation.

China is willing to firmly support each other with Saudi Arabia and work towards mutual achievements, firmly regard each other's development as an important opportunity, and further strengthening the role of the High-Level Chinese-Saudi Joint Committee, with the aim of advancing bilateral relations to new heights and continuously improving the well-being of both peoples, said the premier.

China and Saudi Arabia, as major developing countries, share extensive common interests. China is willing to work closely with Saudi Arabia and advance together on the path of development, said Li.

He called on both sides to further expand bilateral trade, deepen cooperation in traditional areas such as oil and gas, petrochemicals and infrastructure, explore collaboration in emerging fields like new energy, information and communication, and the digital and green economies, while encouraging their respective companies to invest in each other's countries and working together to maintain global industrial and supply chain stability.