In what was widely viewed as a snub to Washington, Beijing and Riyadh last week inked a slate of trade agreements topping $50 billion during Xi Jinping’s trip to Saudi Arabia, though they remained mum on the details. For years, the world’s largest oil consumer (China) and the world’s largest oil exporter (Saudi Arabia) have cultivated strong ties based on mutually beneficial economic interests. But relations have expanded in recent years, with the two becoming more aligned geopolitically as well. Riyadh, feeling jilted by Washington, is keen to boost ties with the world's second largest economy. China, for its part, wants to gain more of a foothold in the energy-rich Middle East. Who's in the driver's seat? We take a look at China-Saudi trade since 2000.
