King Fahd Ibn Abdul-Aziz of Saudi Arabia met visiting Chinese President Jiang Zemin met in Riyahd October 31 and discuss relations between their two countries.

During the meeting, Jiang said that the Chinese side is satisfied with the rapid growth of bilateral relations over the past 10 years since the two countries established diplomatic relations.

He expressed appreciation to King Fahd for his close attention to the development of bilateral relations and efforts to promote the Sino-Saudi cooperation.

Jiang said that as the 21st century is approaching, he sincerely hopes that the relations of friendly cooperation between the two countries will develop constantly.

Speaking on the same occasion, King Fahd extended his warm welcome to Jiang.

He said that by meeting with Jiang, he spent a wonderful evening.

He expressed the wish that the Chinese leader's current state visit to Saudi Arabia will be a complete success.

After the meeting, the two leaders attended a ceremony for the signing of five accords on bilateral cooperation in such fields as education, oil exploration, radio and television and print journalism.

The Saudi King also gave an evening banquet in Jiang's honor, which was attended by more than 300 dignitaries, including members of the Saudi royal family and senior government officials from both countries.

Jiang arrived here earlier Sunday for a state visit to Saudi Arabia, which is the last leg of Jiang's current six-nation tour of Europe, Africa and Asia. He has already visited Britain, France, Portugal, Morocco and Algeria.

It is the first-ever visit to Saudi Arabia by a Chinese head of state.

Jiang's entourage include Vice Premier Qian Qichen, Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan, Minister in charge of State Development Planning Commission Zeng Peiyan, Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Shi Guangsheng, Special Assistant Hua Jianmin, Deputy Director of the General Office of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee You Xigui, and Deputy Director of the Policy Research Office of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee Wang Huning. (Xinhua)