Ashraf Al Ghazzawi, Saudi Aramco's executive vice president of Strategy and Corporate Development, receives an interview with Xinhua in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, Dec. 17, 2025.(Xinhua/Wang Haizhou)

RIYADH, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- China is "a very important and central market" for and a long-term "strategic partner" of Saudi Aramco, an executive of the Saudi oil giant said recently, voicing optimism about the Chinese economy and its future development.

"It's a very important country. We have positive outlooks and positive views on the Chinese economy and where it is heading," said Ashraf Al Ghazzawi, Saudi Aramco's executive vice president of Strategy and Corporate Development.

China is central to Saudi Aramco's downstream liquids-to-chemicals strategy, with most of its overseas investments in this area made alongside Chinese partners, Al Ghazzawi noted.

"Saudi Aramco's partnership with China has multiple intersection points, not only in the energy sector, but also in supply-chain cooperation, and it extends to technology and innovation," Al Ghazzawi said.

The company, which started its cooperation with China in 1991, now has two overseas research and development teams in the country, and its largest venture capital team in Asia is also based in China, he noted.

Saudi Aramco is also pursuing international cooperation in artificial intelligence with countries including China, which has "competitive edge and a leading position," he added. ■