Special Envoy Zhai Jun of the Chinese Government on the Middle East Issue (left) and Abdulrahman Ahmad Al-Harbi, Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to China (center) pose for a group picture at the Saudi Founding Day 2025 celebration in Beijing, on February 25, 2025. Photo: mfa.gov.cn

The Embassy of Saudi Arabia in China hosted the Saudi Founding Day 2025 celebration in Beijing on February 25. Special Envoy Zhai Jun of the Chinese Government on the Middle East Issue, participated in the reception. Both sides also exchanged views on bilateral relations. 

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations 35 years ago, the China-Saudi Arabia relations have overtaken others from behind and are now at the forefront of China's relations with Middle Eastern countries. The two sides also had an exchange of views on China's relations with Arab and Persian Gulf states, and indicated that both sides will strengthen communication and coordination. 

Meanwhile, China and Saudi Arabia signed an executive plan for the China-Saudi Arabia Year of Culture in 2025, according to China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The plan lays a solid foundation for deepened cultural cooperation between the two countries. This executive program aims to celebrate cultural relations between China and Saudi Arabia, and further strengthen their friendly ties through cultural collaboration. 

Introduced in 2022, Saudi Founding Day has since become the first annual Saudi public holiday, with both public and private sector workers getting a day off. Saudi Founding Day is designed to commemorate the deep historical, civilizational, and cultural roots.