Saudi Arabia hopes to further develop political and economic ties with China so as to benefit the people of both countries, Saudi King Fahd Ibn Abdul-Aziz said in Riyadh Sunday.

China is an important and peace-loving country in the world and a friend of Saudi Arabia. Hopefully, both countries would strengthen their political and economic ties to benefit both peoples, the king said at a meeting with a delegation of the Chinese National People's Congress (NPC) foreign affairs committee, headed by Jiang Enzhu, chairman of the committee.

The king lauded the fast development of the Chinese economy and hoped that China would make still greater achievements.

He also expressed the hope that the Saudi Consultative Council (parliament) and the NPC would cement their friendly and cooperative relations.

For his part, Jiang said China attaches great importance to developing friendly and cooperative ties with Saudi Arabia.

Bilateral ties are now at their best since the establishment of diplomatic relations, Jiang said, adding that the two nations are facing great opportunities to further deepen their friendly cooperation in an all-round way.

On the same day, Jiang also met Salih Bin Abdullah Bin Hameed, chairman of the Saudi Consultative Council.

Hameed said the Consultative Council highly regards the friendly exchanges with the NPC and is willing to help promote the development of bilateral ties and cooperation in various fields through expanding the contacts and exchanges between the two parliaments.

(Xinhua News Agency November 21, 2005)