Saudi King Salman (centre R) and Chinese President Xi Jinping review the honour guard during a welcoming ceremony in Riyadh January 19, 2016.

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to reaffirm diplomatic and economic bilateral relations between the two nations.

Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Xi held one-on-one talks that focused on a range of key regional and international issues including conflicts in the Middle East.

During the joint summit, Saudi Arabia and China signed 14 agreements and memoranda of understanding to enhance cooperation between the two countries in various fields.

A memorandum of understanding was signed in line with China’s Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiative, which aim to build roads, railways, ports and airports spreading from Western China to Central Asia and onwards to Europe.

Another memorandum of understanding was signed for building a high energy nuclear reactor that would use gas for cooling.

Saudi Arabia’s oil giant Saudi Aramco and China’s Sinopec also signed a framework agreement for strategic cooperation between the two companies.

Xi, making his first presidential visit to the Middle East, will also travel to Egypt and Iran. The unprecedented trip aims to raise the economic giant’s profile in a troubled region

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