S Arabia aims to drive up food exports to China

JEDDAH, May 12 (Arab News): Saudi Arabia is pushing to expand food exports to China and attract agricultural investment with a ministerial visit that aims to deepen bilateral trade and boost non-oil economic cooperation.

Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al-Fadley has begun an official visit to China, heading a high-level delegation to enhance bilateral cooperation in the fields of environment, water, and food production.

The trip also focuses on boosting exports - particularly of over 20 new local food products- facilitating knowledge exchange, and promoting sustainable development and trade growth between the two countries, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

Saudi Arabia's non-oil exports to China soared to SR3.68 billion ($980 million) in December, representing a 69.6 percent increase from the previous month, according to recent data from the General Authority for Statistics.