Saudi Arabia’s Reasons For Advancing Economic Cooperation With China in 2015-2024

Abstract

This research aims to identify why Saudi Arabia needed to advance its economic relations with China. Graham Allison's theory of rational actor decision-making was used to support this analysis. According to the author of this study, Saudi Arabia and China have long-standing historical bilateral relations in general. In regards to Saudi Vision 2030, some obstacles may be preventing Saudi Arabia from achieving its goals, most notably Saudi Arabia's economic dependence on oil, problems with the dominant power in the Middle East and its primary partner the United States of America, and the conflict between Saudi Arabia and Iran. These factors prompted Saudi Arabia to make decisions to strengthen relations with one of the great powers, and they chose China as Saudi Arabia views China as a strategic partner and a potentially huge market. This decision can be considered logical given the issues. This research attempts to answer the following question: Why did Saudi Arabia advance its economic cooperation with China from 2015 to 2024? answering this question is essential to understanding Saudi foreign policy.