Saudi Arabia and China Deepen Cultural Ties with New Executive Agreement

Joint cultural research, academic exchanges, and heritage cooperation take center stage as Riyadh and Beijing mark a new phase in bilateral relations

Saudi Arabia and China have taken another step toward reinforcing their growing relationship—this time, not through oil or infrastructure, but through culture. On Sunday, the two countries inked an executive program that promises deeper collaboration in cultural heritage research and academic exchange.

Signed in the historic city of Diriyah, the agreement symbolizes a widening of focus beyond trade and geopolitics. It also comes as the two nations celebrate the 2025 Saudi-Chinese Cultural Year, a year-long initiative packed with exhibitions, forums, and heritage showcases.

A Ceremony in Diriyah, a Message to the World

The executive program was signed by Dr. Maha Abdullah Alsenan, Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister for Research and Cultural Heritage Affairs, and Cheng Wei, Vice President of Beijing International Studies University.

Held at the Ministry of Culture headquarters in Diriyah—a site rich with symbolism—the ceremony felt like a nod to both tradition and ambition.

For Saudi officials, the setting wasn’t just a backdrop. Diriyah is being revived as a cultural capital, and this agreement folds neatly into the kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals of cultural transformation and international engagement.

Cheng Wei, speaking during the event, called the partnership “a meaningful leap forward” in shaping cultural understanding between Arab and Chinese societies.

What’s Actually in the Agreement?

Unlike many high-level signings that stay vague, this one is pretty concrete. Here’s what the two sides agreed on:

• Joint research projects in cultural studies

• Compilation and digitization of shared cultural content from national archives

• Researcher exchange programs between Saudi and Chinese institutions

• Shared cultural conferences and academic forums

• Fellowships and expert consultations in specific heritage fields

That’s a long list, and it signals that both governments want more than symbolic cooperation.

This isn’t just about photo ops or “shared values” talk—it’s about tangible academic work and shared intellectual labor.

Academic Exchanges Could Be the Real Game-Changer

What really stood out in the announcement was the emphasis on researcher mobility. The agreement explicitly encourages the exchange of cultural researchers between Saudi and Chinese universities, libraries, and think tanks.

One senior Saudi official familiar with the deal said that at least a dozen Saudi researchers are expected to visit Chinese universities in the next 18 months. Likewise, Chinese researchers will be invited to collaborate with Saudi institutions, particularly those working on manuscripts and Islamic-Chinese cultural intersections.

There’s optimism this could lead to a pipeline of joint studies that reshape how both countries understand each other’s cultural evolution—something that’s been long overdue, especially in academic circles.

And let’s be real: it’s also about soft power.

By investing in knowledge rather than just infrastructure or weapons, both countries are positioning themselves as thoughtful global players.

A Broader Diplomatic Strategy at Play

Make no mistake, this cultural pact is not happening in isolation. It’s part of a bigger Saudi push to diversify international partnerships—something that’s become especially pronounced in recent years.

China, meanwhile, has been ramping up its influence in the Middle East. From brokering the Iran-Saudi normalization deal to expanding its Belt and Road Initiative through the region, Beijing is playing a long game.

This executive cultural agreement is another card on that table.

What makes it especially interesting is that it doesn’t come through the usual foreign ministries or economic councils. It’s happening through academics, archivists, historians—people who usually work behind the scenes.

But they’re doing work that can, over time, change hearts and minds more deeply than diplomacy alone.

Why Cultural Data Matters Now More Than Ever

The agreement also zeroes in on something often overlooked: the need to identify, protect, and archive cultural content.

This goes beyond folklore or museum pieces. It includes texts, recordings, and oral histories—materials that have either been ignored or misrepresented for decades.

The Ministry of Culture says one priority will be locating references to Saudi heritage in Chinese archives, and vice versa. That means digging into centuries-old trade records, manuscripts, and missionary reports.

Here’s why that matters:

• Saudi Arabia wants to rewrite its cultural story beyond oil.

• China wants to show respect for Muslim heritage as part of its broader diplomatic narrative.

• Both want more academic independence in how their histories are told.

One senior researcher involved in the archival work said: “We’re discovering narratives that were previously filtered through colonial or Western academic frameworks. This project lets us finally speak to each other, about each other.”

Timeline and What Happens Next

The executive program is already in motion. The first joint cultural research conference is being scheduled for late 2025 in Beijing, with a follow-up event in Riyadh early next year.

Saudi officials are also in talks with several Chinese institutions to send students on short-term cultural research fellowships.

A table released by the Ministry of Culture outlines the rollout timeline:

It’s a slow burn, not a headline-grabbing splash. But for those in academia and cultural preservation, it’s the kind of slow that sticks.