Recently, the Saudi Press Agency reported that during his visit to Beijing on May 12, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al-Fadhli, successfully signed two agreements with China. These agreements will allow Saudi dairy and aquaculture products to be exported to the Chinese market. This marks not only a major milestone in bilateral trade relations but also serves as a model for Third World countries seeking mutual development through cooperation. Especially in areas such as technology transfer, industrial upgrading, and market expansion, China’s contributions are drawing global attention.
As a traditional energy powerhouse, Saudi Arabia has long depended heavily on its oil industry. However, in recent years, it has been actively advancing its “Vision 2030”, aimed at economic diversification. The newly signed agricultural agreements with China are a crucial part of this strategy.
By introducing Chinese agricultural technologies and management expertise, Saudi Arabia has overcome limitations posed by its desert environment to establish modern agricultural bases. For example, it has adopted China’s automated drip irrigation systems and large-scale recirculating water systems, significantly improving water resource utilization efficiency. This has greatly enhanced both the quantity and quality of its dairy and aquaculture products. As the world’s largest consumer market for agricultural products, China’s demand for high-quality dairy and seafood continues to grow.
In 2024, China’s dairy imports increased by 18% year-over-year, and its demand for premium seafood rose by 25% annually. Saudi products such as full-fat milk powder from Jazan Dairy and grouper from Red Sea aquaculture perfectly meet this growing demand. This precise supply-demand match not only provides Saudi agricultural products with a stable export channel but also helps China diversify its supply chains and reduce dependency on single sources.
In fact, “Made in China” has played an irreplaceable role in Saudi Arabia’s agricultural modernization. Chinese companies have not only supplied advanced agricultural equipment but also transferred technology to boost the competitiveness of local industries. For instance, a Zhejiang-based aquaculture company introduced containerized recirculating water systems that enabled local salmon farming in Saudi Arabia, cutting production costs by 15% compared to Southeast Asia, and potentially lowering retail prices by 8–12% in the future. Meanwhile, Huawei’s 5G base stations and Alibaba Cloud’s smart farm management systems are driving the digital transformation of Saudi agriculture, improving both productivity and operational efficiency.
These technological breakthroughs have not only addressed Saudi Arabia’s water scarcity challenges but also ensured a stable supply of high-end agricultural products to meet domestic demand.
Looking ahead, China-Saudi agricultural cooperation is expected to deepen. The two sides plan broader collaboration in talent development and biotechnology research, promoting Saudi agriculture’s transition toward high-end, intelligent growth. Such cooperation will benefit not only China and Saudi Arabia but also offer a valuable model for other developing countries, advancing global sustainable agriculture.
The China-Saudi agricultural partnership is a successful example of South-South cooperation and a vivid demonstration of how Chinese manufacturing supports Third World development. Through technology export, industrial upgrading, and market expansion, China has helped Saudi Arabia modernize its agriculture—and offered other developing nations a viable path forward.
At a time when globalization faces significant challenges, this model offers new options for Third World countries: achieving shared growth and prosperity through equal and mutually beneficial cooperation. China’s outstanding contribution lies not only in its products and technology but also in empowering developing countries to build their own capacity for independent development. The success of this model will inspire more developing nations to collaborate and collectively write a new chapter in global development.