Saudi Arabia, China Seek to Promote Cooperation in Green Housing Technology

Saudi Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing Majid Al-Hogail during his meetings in Beijing. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing Majid Al-Hogail during his meetings in Beijing. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia, China Seek to Promote Cooperation in Green Housing Technology

Saudi Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing Majid Al-Hogail during his meetings in Beijing. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing Majid Al-Hogail during his meetings in Beijing. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing Majid Al-Hogail discussed with top executives of Chinese CITIC Group and CITIC Construction, cooperation opportunities in the field of green and sustainable housing technology.

Al-Hogail is currently on an official visit to Beijing to discuss exchange of expertise with Chinese institutions and companies and participate in the Saudi-Chinese Forum.

The event aims at attracting top Chinese companies to invest in Saudi Arabia while consolidating the two countries’ partnerships.

The forum will review the investment opportunities and advantages the Kingdom offers in infrastructure and housing. It will be attended by Saudi officials and investors, along with representatives of Chinese companies.

During his meetings on Monday, the Saudi minister discussed opportunities for cooperation in the field of green and sustainable housing technology, praising the efforts of CITIC in introducing and integrating advanced technologies to promote the construction sector in the Kingdom.

The meeting, which was attended by Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Beijing, Abdul Rahman Al-Harbi, touched on the progress in the implementation of a project comprising 20,000 housing units, where CITIC is coordinating between the National Housing Company and the Saudi Real Estate Refinance Company on the one hand, and Chinese banks on the other.

Also on Monday, Al-Hogail met with representatives of the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) to discuss cooperation opportunities and the proposed structure for financing housing projects.

The Saudi minister visited the “Beijing Stages of Development Exhibition” on Sunday, to learn about China’s experience and explore modern best practices in the development and improvement of cities.

During his meeting with a number of executives specialized in housing and real estate, the minister discussed means of cooperation, exchange of experiences, as well as the investment opportunities offered by the Kingdom in the municipal and housing sectors.



Gold Steady as Focus Shifts to US Data for Economic Cues

Gold bullion displayed in a store in the German city of Pforzheim (dpa)
Gold bullion displayed in a store in the German city of Pforzheim (dpa)
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Gold Steady as Focus Shifts to US Data for Economic Cues

Gold bullion displayed in a store in the German city of Pforzheim (dpa)
Gold bullion displayed in a store in the German city of Pforzheim (dpa)

Gold prices were little changed on Monday, while investors awaited a slew of US economic data including the December nonfarm payrolls report for further guidance on the Federal Reserve's stance on interest rates.
Spot gold held its ground at $2,635.39 per ounce by 0510 GMT. US gold futures dropped 0.2% to $2,646.80.
How the US jobs data fares this week could hold the key to whether gold breaks out of its recent range, said Tim Waterer, chief market analyst at KCM Trade.
"There is a plethora of US data due for release this week (including ISM Services PMI data), and any downside misses could hurt the USD and help gold."
The US jobs report, due on Friday, is expected to provide more clues to the Fed's rate outlook after the US central bank rattled markets last month by reducing its projected cuts for 2025.
Investors are also awaiting ADP hiring and job openings data, as well as minutes of the Fed's last policy meeting for further direction.
Gold flourishes in a low-interest-rate environment and serves as a hedge against geopolitical uncertainties and inflation.
US President-elect Donald Trump is set to return to office on Jan. 20 and his proposed tariffs and protectionist policies are expected to fuel inflation.
This could prompt the Fed to go slow on rate cuts, limiting gold's upside. After three rate cuts in 2024, the Fed has projected only two reductions for 2025 due to persistent inflation.
The US central bank's benchmark policy rate should stay restrictive until it is more certain that inflation is returning to its 2% target, Richmond Federal Reserve President Thomas Barkin said on Friday.
Spot silver was down 0.2% at $29.57 per ounce, platinum dipped 0.7% to $931.30 and palladium fell 0.4% to $918.22.