China's President Xi is in Saudi Arabia as part of an economic development initiative.

This week, Chinese leader Xi Jinping is attending two regional summits in Saudi Arabia as part of efforts to stimulate economic growth stifled by anti-COVID-19 measures.

The Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday that Xi will attend the inaugural China-Arab States Summit and a meeting with leaders of the six Gulf Cooperation Council states in the Saudi capital of Riyadh. On Saturday, his state visit to Saudi Arabia will conclude.

Xi's participation in the China-Arab States Summit is the "biggest and highest-level diplomatic event between China and the Arab world since the founding of the People's Republic of China," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters at a Wednesday briefing.

Mao stated that China expects the summit to establish a future agenda for bilateral ties and "help build more strategic mutual understandings on significant regional and international issues... and defend multilateralism."

The latter sentence was an apparent reference to China's efforts to disrupt the U.S.-dominated international order, which has seen Beijing form alliances with Russia, Iran, and other hostile states.

China's importance as the world's second-largest economy and a key source of outbound investment is highlighted by Xi's Belt and Road Initiative and Global Development Initiative. These schemes seek to have Chinese corporations construct and finance roads, power plants, ports, and other infrastructure throughout Asia and beyond, dramatically expanding Beijing's influence in developing nations.

There have been charges that many of the projects are impractical, expensive, and prohibitive for the majority of poor nations that are doing them.

China imports fifty percent of its oil to satisfy its enormous need. The majority of these imports, amounting to tens of billions of dollars yearly, originate from Saudi Arabia.

The sweeping lockdowns implemented across China in reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic inflicted a significant blow to China's economic growth, which had been steadily declining for years.

In the three months ending in September, China's economic growth improved to 3.9% from 2.2% in the first half of the year, but still fell far short of the government's target.

China announced on Wednesday a series of moves to dial back some of its most stringent anti-COVID-19 policies, such as restricting harsh lockdowns and ordering schools without known infections to resume regular lessons.

China's ruling Communist Party shares many authoritarian traits with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf regimes, protecting Beijing from criticism regarding its harsh policies toward Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities. More than one million people have been transferred to detention institutions, where they claim they have been forced to renounce Islam and vow allegiance to Xi and the party.

Beijing refutes the allegations, stating that they have been offering job training and eliminating radical, separatist, and terroristic tendencies among Muslims.

With no substantial differences on human rights, the tone of Xi's visit is "expected to be much more positive" than that of U.S. Vice President Joe Biden's visit earlier this year, according to a research by the political risk consultant Eurasia Group.

The research stated, "However, the relationship has a long way to go before it is as deep and nuanced as Saudi-American relations."

Despite Biden's prior promises to hold Saudi Arabian leader Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman accountable for the murder of a journalist based in the United States, his administration stated last month that the prince's high office should shield him from a lawsuit for his role. Tuesday, a U.S. federal judge dismissed the claim.

Long ago, the U.S. military has protected Saudi Arabia from external foes in exchange for Saudi Arabia's support of global oil markets.

Having spent the majority of the pandemic in China, Xi's journey to Saudi Arabia is a continuation of his efforts to rebuild his worldwide stature. This is only Xi's third international trip since the beginning of 2020.

It also comes amid concerns about the Chinese public's support for Xi, who has aggressively suppressed free expression and eliminated political opponents. In October, Xi was awarded a third five-year term as leader, but this month's mass protests against "zero-COVID" regulations were the most substantial public challenge to his reign and may have led to a relaxation of some rules.

Chinese enterprises, including construction firms and the telecoms titan Huawei, have emerged as key actors in Saudi Arabia's effort to improve its infrastructure. During Xi's visit, further agreements are anticipated to be struck, especially in the defense industry, where Saudi Arabia has showed signs of turning away from its traditional reliance on the United States.

In its research, Eurasia Group stated, "The Saudi visit will allow Xi to be the center of attention, and regional leaders will be receptive to the Chinese perspective." Beijing is aware that these discussions are occurring against the backdrop of strained relations between Mideast capitals and Washington.