by: Arab News Saudi Arabia:
In a bid to bolster economic cooperation in civil aviation, top officials from Saudi Arabia and China convened in Beijing to discuss investment opportunities and technology transfer for industry advancements.
Led by Abdulaziz Al-Duailej, president of the Kingdom’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), a high-level delegation embarked on a visit to China, initiating discussions on enhancing connectivity and exploring partnership aspects across various aviation areas.
The discussions also delved into the exploration of innovative solutions in aviation, including sustainable fuels, advanced air mobility, and traffic management systems. Both nations expressed a keen interest in integrating artificial intelligence and digital technologies to enhance the aviation experience and operational efficiency.
Highlighting substantial investments in the sector, the Saudi delegation reiterated the Kingdom’s openness to further opportunities. This aligns with GACA’s objective of modernizing the airport system and supports Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector target of attracting 150 million visitors by 2030.
Al-Duailej underscored the Kingdom’s success in initiating substantial investments in airline and airport infrastructure, citing the establishment of Riyadh Air as a new national carrier. He also emphasized the launch of the master plan for King Salman International Airport in Riyadh, alongside several other strategic investments in the sector’s infrastructure.
In line with the National Aviation Strategy, Saudi Arabia aims to enhance air connectivity to 250 destinations, serving 330 million passengers, and to double air cargo capacity to 4.5 million tons by 2030.
Al-Duailej concluded the meeting by highlighting the upcoming Saudi Airport Exhibition scheduled to take place in Riyadh later this year. The two-day event will assess the ongoing growth of the sector in the presence of global leaders in the aviation industry.
Encouraging Chinese firms to explore investment opportunities in the Kingdom, the president urged them to join Saudi Arabia’s efforts to reshape the future of global aviation.
The overarching goal of the 11-day tour, which also includes visits to Singapore and the US, is to enhance travel options, promote tourism, and facilitate cultural and commercial exchange between the countries.
