The People's Republic of China and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia enjoyed comprehensive and in-depth development of the bilateral relations and fruitful cooperation in all fields since the diplomatic ties were established in 1990. The year 2010 marked the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the China-Saudi Arabia strategic friendship continued to move forward steadily.

The two countries maintained frequent exchange of visits and deepened political mutual trust. In October, State Councilor Meng Jianzhu visited Saudi Arabia. During the visit, he met with King Abdullah Bin Abdul-Aziz Al-Saud and Head of the General Intelligence Muqrin Bin Abdul-Aziz Al-Saud and held talks with Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior Naif Bin Abdul-Aziz Al-Saud. The two sides signed cooperation documents in the fields of security and law enforcement. In January, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi visited Saudi Arabia. He met with King Abdullah and held talks with Foreign Minister Faysal Bin Abdul-Aziz Al-Suad. In December, Vice Foreign Minister Zhai Jun visited Saudi Arabia and participated in the political consultation between the two foreign ministries. In May, Foreign Minister Faysal came to China to attend the Fourth Ministerial Conference of China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. He met respectively with Premier Wen Jiabao and Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee Li Changchun.

The day 21 July 2010 marked the 20th anniversary of China-Saudi Arabia diplomatic ties. President Hu Jintao, Vice President Xi Jinping and Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi exchanged congratulatory messages respectively with King Abdullah, Crown Prince and Deputy Premier Sultan Bin Abdul-Aziz Al-Saud and Foreign Minister Faysal. The two countries jointly issued a commemorative envelop. Yousif Bin Tarrad Al Sa'doun, Undersecretary for Economic and Cultural Affairs of Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led a youth delegation to China which, together with the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League of China, held the First Sino-Saudi Youth Forum.

Cooperation between the two countries in economy, trade, energy and infrastructure moved forward steadily. Saudi Arabia is expected to remain China's largest supplier of crude oil in the world and largest trading partner in West Asia and Africa. The Al-Mashaaer Al-Mugadassah Metro Project Southern Line undertaken by China Railway Construction Corporation Limited was completed in November.

Cultural cooperation and people-to-people exchanges went smoothly between the two countries. Saudi Arabia took an active part in the Shanghai World Expo and spent US$150 million on its pavilion. The Saudi Pavilion was one of the most popular pavilions during the Expo and received over 4 million visitors. On behalf of King Abdullah, Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs Mansour Bin Miteb Bin Abdul-Aziz Al-Saud attended the opening ceremony of the Shanghai World Expo and relevant activities of the National Pavilion Day of Saudi Arabia. In 2010, over 13,000 Chinese Muslims were organized to make pilgrimages to Saudi Arabia.