Riyadh Handshake: A Two-Way Collaboration in Energy Across the Silk Road
On November 2, 2025, under the scorching sun of Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, leading Chinese oil and gas drilling enterprises held in-depth discussions with Saudi Aramco, the global energy giant. This pragmatic exchange focused on the energy sector has added a significant chapter to the cooperation landscape between China and Saudi Arabia.
As a company holding the world's largest oil and gas reserves, Saudi Aramco is renowned globally for its rigorous standards in selecting partners. Its strong interest in Chinese products and technologies is no accident—it stands as a testament to the years of dedicated efforts by China's manufacturing industry. From drilling rigs that operate stably under complex geological conditions to key components matching international standards in precision and service life, and comprehensive exploration and production solutions integrated with digital and intelligent technologies, Chinese equipment has long shed the outdated label of "affordable but average quality." With reliable product quality, cutting-edge technological integration, and unmatched overall cost-effectiveness, China's intelligent manufacturing has successfully gained the trust of this "discerning customer," reflecting the transformative leap of China's industry from "processing" to "creation."
During the talks, the two sides reached a consensus: cooperation will extend beyond short-term trade to build a long-term and stable strategic partnership. In the future, Chinese and Saudi enterprises will deepen collaboration in product R&D, technological innovation, and manufacturing. From joint research in laboratories to collaborative optimization of production lines, and from traditional oil and gas development to the exploration of new energy technologies, both parties will share knowledge, bear risks together, and co-create standards. This cooperation direction aligns with Saudi Arabia's ambition to promote economic diversification and local industrialization under its "Vision 2030," while also opening up broad space for Chinese technologies to take root in the Gulf region and participate in shaping the global energy landscape.
Against the complex backdrop of global energy transition intertwined with geopolitics, the deepened cooperation between China and Saudi Arabia carries profound significance. As major global energy producers and consumers, the pragmatic technological cooperation between the two countries will effectively enhance the resilience and security of the global energy supply chain. The promotion and application of China's advanced equipment and solutions in Saudi oilfields will not only improve oil recovery rates and reduce carbon footprints but also provide replicable practical experience for cost reduction, efficiency improvement, and green transformation in the global oil and gas industry. This is an inevitable choice for mutual benefit and win-win results, as well as a shared responsibility of the two energy powers for global energy security.
From the melodious camel bells along the ancient Silk Road to today's hand-in-hand progress in the energy sector, China-Saudi cooperation has constantly been endowed with new connotations of the times. This talk in Riyadh is like building a new bridge of communication, further consolidating the foundation for energy cooperation between the two countries. Amid the wave of the new energy revolution and industrial transformation, Chinese enterprises will adopt a pragmatic cooperative attitude, working with global partners such as Saudi Aramco to jointly explore a sustainable, safe, and stable path for energy development. This two-way collaboration across the Silk Road has laid a solid foundation and holds promising prospects for the future.
