On January 24 local time, Special Representative of President Xi Jinping and State Councilor Yang Jiechi attended condolence activity of Late King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia in Riyadh and conducted a brief conversation with King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia.
Yang Jiechi, on behalf of the Chinese leaders, government and people, expressed deep condolences over the death of King Abdullah and conveyed the oral message from President Xi Jinping to King Salman. Xi Jinping expressed in the oral message that King Abdullah was a well-respected statesman with strategic vision, who had made significant contributions to achieving long-term stability and economic development of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and maintaining international and regional peace and stability. He attached great importance to and vigorously promoted China-Saudi Arabia cooperation in various fields during his lifetime and strategic friendly relations between both countries have enjoyed substantial progress. I am deeply saddened by losing such a close friend.
In the oral message, Xi Jinping once again congratulated Salman for succeeding as King of Saudi Arabia and expressed his hope that Saudi Arabia will be constructed better and better under the King's leadership and continue to play an important and positive role in international and regional affairs. He expressed that he is willing to continuously conduct in-depth discussions with King Salman on strengthening bilateral strategic cooperation and pushing China-Saudi Arabia relations to a new level in the new era.
King Salman expressed that he appreciates President Xi Jinping for sending a special representative to attend the condolence activity and Saudi Arabia is willing to constantly deepen strategic cooperation with China and welcomes President Xi Jinping to visit Saudi Arabia at an early date.