By Ibrahim El-Khazen
RIYADH (AA) – Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received Chinese President Xi Jinping in Riyadh on Thursday ahead of a summit between Riyadh and Beijing.
According to the official Saudi Press Agency, Bin Salman received Xi at Al-Yamamah Palace with an official ceremony.
Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz will receive the Chinese president at the royal court for talks, Al-Ekhbariya TV channel reported.
“Nearly 20 agreements will be signed during the Saudi Arabia-China summit,” it added.
Xi arrived in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday evening on an official visit.
During his visit to the kingdom, the Chinese president will participate in three China-Saudi Arabia summits, a China-Gulf summit, and a China-Arab summit.
Xi’s visit comes three months after US President Joe Biden visited Riyadh amid an energy crisis caused by the Russian war on Ukraine.
Xi last visited Saudi Arabia in 2016.
*Ikram Imane Kouachi contributed to this report.