Saudi Arabia is strengthening its strategic technology partnership with China through a series of high-level meetings aimed at advancing artificial intelligence, the digital economy, emerging technologies and space collaboration, as the Kingdom pushes ahead with its Saudi Vision 2030 agenda.
Minister of Communications and Information Technology and Chairman of the Saudi Space Agency Abdullah Alswaha travelled to Beijing alongside Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) Governor Eng. Haytham AlOhali. During the trip, the delegation held talks with senior Chinese government officials and technology leaders.
Alswaha met with China’s Minister of Industry and Information Technology, Li Lecheng, to examine closer cooperation in artificial intelligence, digital innovation and advanced technologies. Their discussions also touched on technology localization, telecommunications, advanced manufacturing and joint innovation efforts intended to bolster the technology ecosystems of both countries.
Building Saudi space capabilities
In the space sector, Alswaha met with Zhou Jie, Chairman of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), to discuss broadening collaboration in space technologies. The talks centred on developing Saudi Arabia’s satellite manufacturing capabilities, localizing space technologies and strengthening knowledge transfer to support the Kingdom’s fast-growing space industry.
Digital services and smart cities
The Saudi minister also held talks with Wang Xing, Founder and Chairman of Meituan, to explore cooperation in AI-driven digital services, intelligent logistics and smart city technologies. The two sides reviewed opportunities to speed up innovation and widen the adoption of advanced digital solutions across the Kingdom.
The engagements in Beijing form part of Saudi Arabia’s broader effort to strengthen international technology partnerships while building domestic capabilities in innovation, digital transformation and the space sector. The initiatives align with Saudi Vision 2030, which frames advanced technologies as a key driver of economic diversification and long-term sustainable growth.
