Gulf, China to address energy challenges together, says Saudi crown prince

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia's crown prince said on Friday that Gulf nations plan on working together with China to address worldwide challenges, including on energy.

The statement was made in Mohammed bin Salman's opening speech at the first "GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council)-China Summit for Cooperation and Development" with the participation of Chinese President Xi Jinping in the Saudi capital.

Formed in 1981, the GCC has six members -- Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Oman -- which heavily rely on oil or gas revenue.

Bin Salman stressed that the region and the world were faced with challenges and exceptional circumstances that demanded collective action.

He said the Gulf states would continue to remain a reliable source for energy supplies to China and the rest of the world.

President Xi, who is on an official visit to the kingdom, is expected to attend another broadened summit in Riyadh, the Arab-China Summit for Cooperation and Development, with the participation of Arab leaders.

The Chinese president's visit comes three months after US President Joe Biden paid a visit to Riyadh amid an energy crisis caused by the Russian war on Ukraine.

Xi's last visit to Saudi Arabia was in 2016.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar