KSA and China have had cordial ties since diplomatic relations were established. Ancient Arabia/Arab world and ancient China have enjoyed millennia old ties, mostly based on trade. The first and last time to date that Arabs and Chinese were ever in a direct conflict with each other was in the 700's when the Arab Abbasid caliphate/empire defeated the Han Chinese Tang Dynasty at the Battle of Taras in 751.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Talas
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sino-Arab_relations
China is in fact the biggest trading partner of KSA and China's trade with the Arab world is only rivaled by the trade that they enjoy with the US and a few other nearby countries such as Japan and South Korea if I am not mistaken. In fact the Chinese government is so interested in improving ties with the Arab world that the Chinese government has created an "Arab Policy Paper" the first such paper to date and until now something unseen.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2016-01/13/c_135006619.htm
http://thediplomat.com/tag/chinas-arab-policy-paper/
China knows that the Arab world due to its extreme riches in terms of natural resources, minerals, hugely strategic location (center of the world basically), large, growing and young populations, as the gateway to Africa (another upcoming economic power due to sheer population size and unfilled potential), the geopolitical perspective, is a very important area for China to be present in.
In fact the Arab world gives China an direct access to the West and Europe as well. Imagine for a while, that sometime in 2050, that Europe will be surrounded by (potentially) pro-Chinese Arab states. This will give China a lot of benefits because so far China has been confined to her own sphere of influence. Of course aside from economic investments in developing African (Sub-Saharan mostly) states etc.
Such a relationship would open a lot of doors. If the wider Arab/Muslim world could join forces with China economically, politically, militarily, etc. I suspect that a lot of good for both parties could emerge. Certainly something better than the current partnership with the West.
Anyway KSA and China had close military dealings already in the 1980's and 1990's (look no further than missiles) and recently this has only intensified a lot.
KSA and China held an military exercise in China (for the first time ever) last year as well.
Last year an strategic security pact was also signed.
https://defence.pk/threads/saudi-arabia-china-sign-security-cooperation-pact.459776/
A few days ago the Chinese navy visited KSA (Jeddah) and the GCC as well.
http://english.chinamil.com.cn/view/2017-01/10/content_7446160.htm
And currently (outside of the military and economic sphere) the cultural sphere is emerging quickly, best exemplified with the ongoing "Roads of Arabia" exhibition at the National Museum of Beijing that millions of Chinese are expected to visit.
http://en.chnmuseum.cn/tabid/522/Default.aspx?ExhibitionLanguageID=636
So much for KSA/GCC blindly following Uncle Tom. That was never the case but ignorant clowns will of course repeat themselves to death. Good for them that they know nothing because I suspect that a lot of "surprises" will emerge from now on and for the foreseeable future.
@Chinese-Dragon @ChineseTiger1986 @Shotgunner51 @long_ etc.
Yes, indeed. China has shown that it is willing to offer JV's and ToT to partners and the people in the Arab and Muslim world, have much greater trust of Chinese than Westerners as there is no historical burden or rivalries as neighbors often have it or neighboring regions.
Both parties would do well if they focused on even more cooperation on all mutually beneficial fields. China, Arab/Muslim world that is. I believe in that strongly and ever since I became politically interested as a teenager this has been my belief. I have never changed it.
