Saudi Arabia strengthens ties with China through multi-billion dollar deals.

Saudi Arabia has signed a $5.6bn deal with Chinese electric and self-driving car maker Human Horizons to manufacture electric vehicles as part of its plan to diversify the economy away from oil. The deal accounted for more than half of the $10bn in investments signed on the first day of a major business conference held in Riyadh. The conference aims to enhance a “strategic” partnership based around the Belt and Road Initiative. Saudi Arabia is planning to boost investments in non-oil sectors, including in electric cars, and has unveiled its own homegrown brand of electric cars called Ceer.