This photo taken on Oct. 1, 2023 shows a book donation ceremony where Chinese oil company Sinopec Group donates over 1,000 books to the King Saud University (KSU) in Riyadh, capital of Saudi Arabia. (Photo: Xinhua)

Chinese oil company Sinopec Group on Sunday donated over 1,000 books to the King Saud University (KSU) in Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh.

The donation from Sinopec's Middle East office comprises books spanning topics like China's socio-economic development, history, culture, arts, technological advancement, and Chinese language.

Zhang Jianchun, vice minister of the Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, and Vice President of KSU Yazeed Al-Sheikh attended the event and jointly unveiled the "Silk Road Library Chinese Bookshelf."

Zhang said in his speech that both the Chinese and Saudi people are diligently striving for their respective grand dreams.

Immersing in each other's languages and meticulously studying the books of both nations not only aids in understanding the history and culture but also promotes closer ties and understanding between the two peoples, he added.

Al-Sheikh expressed gratitude for the gift from Sinopec, considering it a tangible action to deepen Sino-Saudi cultural ties.

He thanked the group on behalf of everyone at the university, stressing the continuity to expand educational and cultural cooperation with the Chinese friends and make greater contributions to the development of strong relations between the two countries.

This bookshelf at KSU marks the third such project funded by Sinopec in Saudi Arabia.