Saudi Crown Prince discusses ‘promising opportunities’ with Chinese foreign minister

Wang Yi is touring the Middle East this week

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Neom, Saudi Arabia. SPA

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday.

They discussed Saudi-Chinese relations, areas of bilateral co-operation and "promising opportunities" for development in various sectors, the Saudi state news agency SPA reported.

Prince Mohammed and Mr Wang also talked about recent developments in regional and international events, as well as efforts to enhance security and stability, SPA said.

The meeting reviewed "a number of issues of common concern", reported the agency.

Also in attendance was Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Minister of State Musaed Al Aiban.

China's ambassador to the kingdom, Chen Weicheng and assistant foreign minister Deng Li also attended .

The meeting was held in Neom, where Saudi authorities are moving ahead with plans to build a smart city.

The 170-kilometre coastal settlement will be powered entirely by clean energy, a major step in Saudi Arabia’s shift away from an oil-based economy.

Mr Wang, who started a Middle East tour this week, also voiced support for Saudi Arabia’s political initiative to end the war in Yemen.

"We call for implementing the Saudi initiative for a settlement in Yemen as soon as possible,” said Mr Wang to Al Arabiya TV.

Mr Wang also told Al Arabiya TV that the Chinese government plans to invite Israelis and Palestinians to hold talks in China.

China has several times in the past offered itself as an alternative to the US for mediating between Israelis and Palestinians.

"We will invite Palestinian and Israeli public figures to have talks in China," Al Arabiya quoted Mr Wang as saying.

He did not elaborate, and it was not immediately clear whether he had government representatives in mind.