Saudi Arabia

This case examines the evolution of China–Saudi Arabia relations from a narrow, oil-based exchange into a multifaceted “co-development” partnership aligned with China's Belt and Road Initiative and Saudi Vision 2030. Energy remains the strategic anchor, but cooperation now spans infrastructure mega-projects, renewable energy, smart agriculture, finance, culture, tourism, and education, institutionalized through a comprehensive strategic partnership and joint engagement in forums such as BRICS+, the SCO, and the G20. The study highlights persistent asymmetries, regulatory complexity, environmental concerns—especially around mega-projects like NEOM—and geopolitical constraints linked to Saudi Arabia's ties with the United States. It concludes that future collaboration in AI, green hydrogen, biotechnology, and advanced manufacturing will determine whether Sino–Saudi relations become a durable model of China's “shared prosperity” approach in the Global South.