Beyond Oil and Trade: The Saudi-Chinese Cultural Year 2025

Thirty-five years after establishing diplomatic ties, Saudi Arabia and China are opening a new chapter with the Saudi-Chinese Cultural Year 2025. Announced in March by the Saudi Ministry of Culture, the year-long program highlights culture as a bridge between two civilizations with ancient roots and global ambition. This approach reflects the soft-power policies that both nations have embraced, using culture, art, and education to reinforce political and economic ties as a part of larger strategies: for Saudi Arabia, this aligns with Vision 2030; for China, it resonates with the Belt and Road Initiative.