Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan completed a two-day visit to China on Wednesday. The visit came at a time of visible tension in relations between U.S. President Donald Trump and Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Details of the visit
Prince Faisal met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Chinese Vice President Han Zheng in Beijing on Tuesday. According to the Saudi Press Agency, talks with Wang Yi covered "efforts to de-escalate, enhance security and stability" as well as economic cooperation in energy, industry, technology and supply chains.
The meeting with Han Zheng focused on strengthening economic and investment ties.
Economic balances shifting
China has become Saudi Arabia's largest trading partner over the past decade. Bilateral trade volume exceeded $107 billion in 2024. Beijing is also the largest buyer of Saudi crude oil, purchasing $47.91 billion worth in 2024 and an average of 1.4 million barrels per day in 2025. This corresponds to approximately 14 percent of China's total crude oil imports.
Tensions with Washington
The visit took place against the backdrop of a deterioration in U.S.-Saudi relations that began after the Iran war. According to a May report by the New York Times, Riyadh denied Washington the use of specific bases and airspace for a planned escort operation in the Strait of Hormuz. Personal dialogue between the leaders has also cooled: the last reported phone call between Mohammed bin Salman and Trump was on May 30. Trump's earlier harsh remarks about the crown prince highlighted the volatility in ties.
Riyadh has also resisted U.S. pressure to normalize ties with Israel, has not yet paid the $1 billion it pledged for Trump's "Peace Council," withdrew its financial support for LIV Golf after the 2026 season, and pulled out of a planned funding agreement with the Metropolitan Opera.
Beijing's diplomatic weight
According to Firas Maksad, director for the Middle East and North Africa at the Eurasia Group, it is natural for Saudi Arabia to consult Beijing when assessing its steps regarding Iran. "Ultimately, China has by far the most influence over Iran and played a key role in normalizing relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran in 2023," Maksad told Al-Monitor.
Maksad added that Beijing could play a diplomatic role in helping Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states find a new path with Iran. According to an AFP report last week, Saudi Arabia plans to host reconciliation talks between Gulf states and Iran.
Security and investment cooperation
The diplomatic engagement runs parallel to deepening economic and security cooperation between Riyadh and Beijing. In March, Saudi Arabia and China reportedly signed a $5 billion deal for a production line of Wing Loong-3 combat drones in Jeddah. Neither Beijing nor Riyadh has publicly confirmed the deal.
In mid-June, Saudi Arabia signed six agreements and memoranda of understanding with Chinese entities for development and housing projects in Riyadh and Dammam, with a total value exceeding $506 million.
The war with Iran is assessed to have dealt a lasting blow to U.S. credibility in the region. While this does not mean Riyadh has completely abandoned Washington, the lesson that relying on a single power is not a solid option when regional security becomes uncertain stands out.
