Beijing, Jumada I 12, 1435, Mar 13, 2014, SPA -- A great reception is held today at Great Hall of the People in honor of Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense, on the occasion of his visit to the People's Republic of China.
Upon arrival, the Crown Prince is received by Vice President of People's Republic of China Li Yuanchao.
The Crown Prince shook hands with the Chinese senior officials. In turn, Vice President of People's Republic of China shook hands with the Crown Prince's accompanying delegation.
Afterward, the Crown Prince and the Chinese Vice President head to the main stage and the Saudi and Chinese national anthems are played.
Then, the Crown Prince and the Chinese Vice President review the guard of honor.
After a short break, Chinese President Xi Jinping received the Crown Prince.
The two sides held a meeting where the Saudi side is led by Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense, and the Chinese side is led by Chinese President Xi Jinping.
At the outset of the meeting, the Chinese President welcomed the Crown Prince, wishing him and his accompanying delegation a good stay in China.
The Chinese President sends his greetings to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, stressing strong relations binding the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and China and the Chinese interest for developing relations with the Kingdom. President Xi Jinping remembered and appreciated the assistance provided by the Kingdom to China during an earthquake struck a Chinese city.
President Xi has lauded an exchange of visits at a senior level and the two governments' keenness for enhancing existing relations between the two countries, stressing that Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz is a friend of China since a long time ago where he provided great contributions in order to develop and enhance cooperation between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and China.
At the outset of his speech on this occasion, Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud expressed his appreciation of the Chinese President and people for the great reception and hospitality accorded to him and his accompanying delegation, expressing his pleasure to visit China. The Crown Prince conveyed greetings of the Custodian of the Two holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to the president, government and people of the People's Republic of China, wishing them steady progress and prosperity.
'My visit comes within the framework of the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for establishing strategic relations between the two friendly countries on the principle of goodness and respect and keenness to ensure close cooperation, deepen dialogue and communication and develop our bilateral relations in all political, economic, commercial, industrial, cultural, investment, energy and security cooperation fields in order to strengthen comprehensive and sustainable development between our countries and serve the issues of peace and security in the region and in the world,' Prince Salman said.
The Crown Prince stressed that this visit would consolidate the strategic relationship between the two countries on the principles of goodness that contribute significantly in addressing regional and international problems and conflicts which are resulted due to no commitment of purposes of the United Nations and non-compliance with its decisions, double standards and development gap widening among all countries.
'The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia confirmed this principle through the initiative of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for Dialogue among Followers of Religions, Cultures and Civilizations and establishment of King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue,' Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz stressed.
'The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia appreciates the positive stances of the People's Republic of China towards the Palestinian cause. We look forward to China as an international magnate with a great political and economic weight to play a prominent role in achieving peace and security in the region in accordance with the international legitimacy resolutions and the Arab peace initiative in order to end the Israeli occupation of Palestinian and Arab territories and establish independent state of Palestine,' the Crown Prince added.
'We also look forward for more cooperation with the government of the People's Republic of China to achieve an urgent peaceful solution for the Syrian crisis in accordance with Geneva Statement in 2012 in order to stop bloodshed of the innocents and establishment of transitional rule commission with full executive powers and pressure on the Syrian regime to help the international community to provide humanitarian assistance to the Syrian people,' Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz stressed in his speech.
'I thank you again for the warm reception and hospitality accorded to me and me accompanying delegation,' the Crown Prince concluded his speech.
The two sides reviewed bilateral relations between the two countries and ways of enhancing them in the interest of the two peoples and countries. They also discussed the latest developments at regional and international arenas in addition to the issues of common interest.
The Chinese President held a dinner party in honor of the Crown Prince and the accompanying delegation.
The meeting and the dinner party were attended by Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Chief of Crown Prince's Court and Special Advisor; Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Ali bin Ibrahim Al-Naimi; Minister of State and Cabinet's Member Dr. Musaed bin Mohammed Al-Aiban; Minister of Finance Dr. Ibrahim bin Abdulaziz Al-Assaf; Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Abdulaziz bin Mohiuddin Khoja; Minister of Commerce and Industry Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah; Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr. Nizar bin Obaid Madani; Deputy Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Abdulrahman bin Saleh Al-Bunyan; Saudi Ambassador to China Yahya bin Abdulkareem Al-Zaid, and a number of Chinese senior officials.
--SPA
18:07 LOCAL TIME 15:07 GMT