Chinese President Hu Jintao discussed a proposal to set up a Saudi-fed
strategic oil reserve in China during a visit to the kingdom which has seen the
signing of energy and defense deals, a Chinese official said.
The plan was raised during Hu's talks with King Abdullah on Saturday and both
sides want to see it through, the official said, requesting anonymity.
The reserve would be on top of the oil supplies Saudi Arabia exports to China
for its daily needs, and which reached some 22.18 million tons last year, he
said Sunday.
The reserve would be set up in a coastal city in southeast China, to be used
by Beijing in case of emergency.
The official did not say how much oil would eventually be stored in the
reserve. But he said Riyadh and Beijing were discussing the feasibility of the
plan and ways of cooperating to carry it out.
Hu toured the headquarters of state oil conglomerate Saudi Aramco in the
eastern oil hub of Dhahran on Sunday.
China's Sinopec is building a refinery with Aramco in the southeastern
Chinese province of Fujian. Another joint refinery venture is planned in Qingdao
city.
Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Nuaimi has been accompanying Hu during his
meetings.
The Chinese leader arrived in the oil-rich kingdom Saturday. Hu and Abdullah
on Saturday presided over the signing of a series of agreements, including one
between Sinopec and Aramco.
The agreement provides for strengthened cooperation in gas exploration and
possible cooperation in oil exploration, a Chinese official said.
An Aramco statement said the agreement provides for an integrated refining
and ethylene project in Fujian to begin production by early 2009.
It also stipulates that the two sides will further efforts to agree on terms
for Aramco's participation in the Qingdao refinery project, which is planned to
go on stream in 2008.
The Chinese leader discussed a proposed 5.2-billion-dollar energy venture in
China with officials of Saudi petrochemical giant SABIC.
Hu also held meetings with Saudi businessmen, including one with billionaire
entrepreneur Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, who said afterwards he had been urged to
increase his investments in China, where he is involved in the hotel and banking
sectors.
In a speech Sunday before the Shura Council, an appointed Saudi advisory
body, Hu urged the enhancement of dialogue and cooperation among all
civilizations in a bid to build a harmonious world.
Efforts should be made to enhance cooperation among all civilizations and
ethnic groups to promote the great cause of mankind's peace and development, Hu
said.
"In order to build a harmonious world, we should endeavor to preserve the
diversity of civilizations and courses of development, adhere to dialogue and
exchange of views between civilizations, uphold the spirit of inclusiveness,
allow cultures to complement one another through competition and develop
together by seeking common ground while shelving differences," the Chinese
president said.
Hu said all countries should acknowledge the differences in cultural
traditions, social systems, values and courses of development of other
countries.
In no way should we use these differences as a pretext to point a finger at
other countries' internal affairs, nor should we blame any civilization,
nationality or religion for the world's existing disputes and conflicts, the
president stressed.
Hu was only the second foreign leader to address the Shura Council after
French President Jacques Chirac, who gave a speech to the all-male body in
March.
The Chinese president, who came from the United States, is due to leave for
Morocco on Monday and go on to Nigeria and Kenya.