China Eyes Electric Vehicle Manufacturing Opportunities in Saudi Arabia

China’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Chang Hua, expressed Beijing’s hopes to strengthen its partnership with the kingdom, especially in electric vehicle production and other industries.
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Hua condemned violations of Lebanon’s sovereignty and the targeting of civilians.
He called for immediate action to reduce tensions and prevent further escalation in the region.
“China is deeply shocked by the high civilian casualties from the conflict between Israel and Lebanon,” Hua said, urging the international community to work on calming the situation.
He emphasized that, no matter how things unfold, “China will always stand for justice and remain committed to peace and stability in the Middle East. We are ready to work with all parties to promote peace in the region.”
China’s Economic Growth
Hua highlighted China’s rise from a $30 billion economy to a $17.8 trillion one, making it the world’s second-largest economy and a leader in trade and industry.
He reiterated China’s goal to maintain high-level openness, push for high-quality economic development, and promote a multipolar world with fair global governance and inclusive economic globalization.
Saudi-China Relations
Hua described the partnership between Saudi Arabia and China as entering a new phase of deep development, congratulating Saudi Arabia on its 94th National Day.
He noted that Chinese Premier Li Qiang’s recent visit to Saudi Arabia has boosted bilateral relations and strengthened the comprehensive strategic partnership, driving it towards a more stable and prosperous future.
The ambassador stressed the need to expand trade and investment between the two countries and highlighted the upcoming “Saudi-Chinese Cultural Year 2025” as a key event.
Hua also pointed out that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman values the strong and historic relationship between the two nations.
The Crown Prince looks forward to further aligning Saudi Vision 2030 with China’s Belt and Road Initiative, expanding cooperation in energy, investment, and culture.
Hua noted that China is Saudi Arabia’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade exceeding $100 billion in the past two years. He also mentioned the recent currency swap agreement between the two countries, which has helped boost trade and investment.
New Developments in Saudi-China Relations
According to Hua, the cooperation between the two nations has grown significantly, particularly in the automotive, renewable energy, and tourism sectors.
In 2023, Saudi imports of Chinese cars reached $4.12 billion, driven by companies like Changan, Geely, MG, Chery, Great Wall, Hongqi, GAC, and BYD, which have opened branches in the kingdom.
Discussions are ongoing about building local manufacturing plants. China exported 4.91 million vehicles in 2023, making it the largest car exporter globally for the first time, including 1.203 million electric vehicles, a 77.6% increase from the previous year.
Hua noted that Saudi Vision 2030 aims for electric vehicles to account for at least 30% of all cars in Riyadh by 2030, and he expressed optimism about enhancing collaboration in automotive manufacturing.
Chinese companies are also increasingly involved in Saudi Arabia’s renewable energy sector. They are working on multiple solar projects, including the Al Shuaibah photovoltaic plant, the largest of its kind in the world, with a capacity of 2.6 gigawatts.
In July 2023, the Renewable Energy Localization Company (RELC), backed by the Saudi Public Investment Fund, signed agreements with three Chinese firms—Envision Technology Group, Jinko Solar, and TCL Zhonghuan—to establish joint ventures for high-efficiency solar cell production in Saudi Arabia.
These projects will focus on producing solar components, helping Saudi Arabia achieve its goal of sourcing 75% of renewable energy project components locally by 2030.
Hua also highlighted the increasing exchange of visits between citizens of both countries. In September 2023, China and Saudi Arabia signed a memorandum of understanding to facilitate group tourism, making the kingdom an official destination for Chinese tour groups.
Several Chinese travel agencies have begun offering packages to Saudi Arabia, and direct flights between the two countries are increasing. Saudi Airlines has expanded its routes, operating numerous weekly flights between Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Riyadh, and Jeddah.

Saudi Arabia has made history by uniting the 193 member states of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to adopt the Riyadh Treaty on Design Law. This landmark achievement, realized after two decades of deliberation, underscores the Kingdom’s leadership in enhancing the global intellectual property system.

The announcement came at the conclusion of the Riyadh Diplomatic Conference on the Design Law Treaty, a rare event for WIPO, which has not held a diplomatic conference outside Geneva for more than a decade. It was also the first such event hosted in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, representing the final stage of negotiations to establish an agreement aimed at simplifying and standardizing design protection procedures across member states.

Over the past two weeks, intensive discussions and negotiations among member states culminated in the adoption of the Riyadh Treaty, which commits signatory nations to a unified set of requirements for registering designs, ensuring consistent and streamlined procedures worldwide. The agreement is expected to have a significant positive impact on designers, enabling them to protect their creations more effectively and uniformly across international markets.

At a press conference held on Friday to mark the event’s conclusion, CEO of the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property Abdulaziz Al-Suwailem highlighted the economic potential of the new protocol.

Responding to a question from Asharq Al-Awsat, Al-Suwailem noted the substantial contributions of young Saudi men and women in creative design. He explained that the agreement will enable their designs to be formally protected, allowing them to enter markets as valuable, tradable assets.

He also emphasized the symbolic importance of naming the convention the Riyadh Treaty, stating that it reflects Saudi Arabia’s growing influence as a bridge between cultures and a global center for innovative initiatives.

The treaty lays critical legal foundations to support designers and drive innovation worldwide, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s vision of promoting international collaboration in the creative industries and underscoring its leadership in building a sustainable future for innovators.

The agreement also advances global efforts to enhance creativity, protect intellectual property, and stimulate innovation on a broader scale.

This achievement further strengthens Saudi Arabia’s position as a global hub for groundbreaking initiatives, demonstrating its commitment to nurturing creativity, safeguarding designers’ rights, and driving the development of creative industries on an international scale.

The Riyadh Diplomatic Conference, held from November 11 to 22, was hosted by the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property and attracted high-ranking officials and decision-makers from WIPO member states.

China Eyes Electric Vehicle Manufacturing Opportunities in Saudi Arabia