In the era of intensifying globalization, bolstering educational exchanges and collaborations is strategically crucial for advancing the future trajectory of China-Saudi Arabia relations. More importantly, educational cooperation plays a pivotal role in the stable and sustained growth of bilateral relations, forming the cornerstone for enhancing mutual comprehension and trust between the two countries.
Educational transformation, beyond nurturing future-oriented and globally competent individuals, serves as a vital conduit for fostering deeper understanding between our peoples, particularly among the younger generation, dismantling cultural barriers, and reinforcing bonds of friendship. By sharing exceptional educational resources and collaborating on human capital development, we can provide robust talent support and intellectual backing for real-world cooperation across various sectors, thereby underpinning China’s Belt and Road Initiative and aligning with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.
Furthermore, the UNESCO report, Transforming education towards SDG4: report of a global survey on country actions to transform education, underscores the significance of international collaboration in education for fostering sustainable and peaceful societies.
With the collaborative planning and promotion by the leaders of both China and Saudi Arabia, the educational cooperation between the two countries has exhibited a promising development trend in recent years.
In terms of student exchanges, Saudi Arabia has emerged as a key source of Arab international students for China.
A Saudi Press report from July 2025 revealed that there are currently 174 Saudi students studying in Chinese colleges, comprising 43 self-funded students and 131 scholarship holders. Simultaneously, the number of Chinese students pursuing education in Saudi Arabia has also witnessed a steady increase, with 688 Chinese students enrolled in Saudi public universities by 2025. Moreover, Saudi Arabia offers 477 scholarships annually to Chinese students attending Saudi universities.
Universities from both nations have inked several inter-institutional agreements covering professor and student exchanges, collaborative research, academic seminars, and other facets of cooperation among higher education institutions. Notably, the Saudi Ministry of Education’s inclusion of Chinese in the national public school curriculum has marked significant strides in Chinese language instruction in Saudi Arabia.
Several universities, such as King Abdulaziz University, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, and the University of Jeddah, have developed Chinese language majors and courses. The establishment of Confucius Institutes and Confucius Classrooms in Riyadh, Jeddah, and other locations has significantly increased the number of Saudi students studying Chinese. In 2022, about 871 students enrolled in various Chinese language classes, and by the 2025 school year, 207 students had graduated with degrees in Chinese language studies.
Furthermore, both countries have initiated preliminary inquiries and achieved certain advancements in the fields of skills training, vocational education, and collaborative scientific research endeavors, including the establishment of joint laboratories. During the launch of the inaugural Saudi Overseas Training Program for Vocational and Economic Development in China, which took place on October 15, 2024, Zhang Hua, the Chinese ambassador to Saudi Arabia, was in attendance.
Subsequently, the Saudi Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC), in conjunction with pertinent Chinese departments, engaged in an eight-day conference on vocational technology and economic development, hosted jointly in Saudi Arabia. The primary aim of this seminar was to advance the industrial transformation objectives outlined in Saudi Vision 2030 by enhancing technical and vocational education and fostering leadership skills.
Shenzhen Polytechnic University (SZPT) is a notable participant in the China-Arab 10+10 Cooperation Program aimed at nurturing young talent.
Guided by the China Association of Higher Education, this initiative strives to promote the development of human talent and educational exchanges between China and Arab nations.
Despite significant advancements, China-Saudi Arabia educational cooperation still confronts numerous pressing challenges. Firstly, cultural adaptation issues and linguistic barriers persist. Chinese students studying in Saudi Arabia must navigate the Arabic language and cultural differences, while Saudi students in China encounter the Mandarin language hurdle, thereby limiting the extent and depth of their interactions to some degree.
Secondly, cooperation in specialized fields requires further expansion and enhancement. While collaborations in language, culture, and business are prevalent, high-level educational and research partnerships in areas where China holds comparative advantages, such as engineering, new energy, artificial intelligence, and biomedicine, which align with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 priorities, remain relatively scarce.
To establish a lasting platform for academic exchanges and collaborative research, both parties will intensify their cooperation in academic resources, scholar exchanges, joint conferences, and shared research achievements. Beijing Foreign Studies University is bolstering its ties with Saudi academic institutions and think tanks through visits to Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University and Prince Sultan University. Efforts to advance concrete mechanisms for high-level educational partnerships gained momentum in 2023, when a Zhejiang University delegation visited Saudi Arabia and reached preliminary agreements with KAUST on joint research projects, high-quality student exchanges, joint degree programs, and dual-degree training.
However, there is scope for improving the impact and sustainability of some collaborative initiatives. Lastly, information asymmetry and cognitive gaps may hinder collaboration outcomes due to a lack of mutual understanding of each other’s educational systems, strengths, and cooperation needs.
The following areas should be the focus of efforts to fully utilize the bridging role of educational cooperation and advance China-Saudi Arabia relations: Firstly, it is imperative to strengthen cultural and linguistic ties between Saudi Arabia and China.
Efforts should be intensified to collaborate on the creation of online learning environments, teacher preparation programs, and language teaching materials.
Additionally, assistance should be provided for the establishment of more reputable language schools. To foster intercultural awareness and inclusivity, exchange programs, such as summer camps, student and scholar visits, and cultural weeks, should be expanded. Secondly, we wish to enhance and refine professional collaboration between Saudi Arabia and China.
By prioritizing the alignment of China’s academic strengths with Saudi Arabia’s developmental needs, we wish to promote and fund collaborative endeavors between academic institutions and research centers in pioneering sectors such as public health, advanced manufacturing, smart cities, information technology, and new energy. To this end, we wish to establish collaborative training programs, dual-degree initiatives, cooperative research hubs, and joint laboratories, thereby fostering the development of multidisciplinary skills that are presently in high demand.
Thirdly, we wish to strengthen platform support and institutional development in the educational collaboration between Saudi Arabia and China. We will encourage the establishment of a China-Saudi University Alliance or an educational cooperation forum, alongside higher-level and more frequent avenues for dialogue on educational partnerships. To facilitate smoother cooperation, we wish to streamline processes such as student visa formalities and expedite the negotiation and implementation of mutual degree recognition agreements.
Additionally, we wish to harness digital technology to propel the development of online platforms for the sharing of educational resources. Lastly, we wish to foster the seamless integration of research, academia, and industry. By nurturing cooperation among universities, research institutions, and businesses in both countries, we will ensure that educational collaboration directly contributes to the socio-economic growth of both nations.
This will involve conducting applied research and targeted training of human capital around specific industrial projects. Through the implementation of these varied strategies, educational collaboration can emerge as a pivotal area in the qualitative enhancement of relations between Saudi Arabia and China, providing substantial momentum for the establishment of a China-Saudi community with a shared future for the upcoming era.
Yanping Wang
Yanping Wang is a scholar at the Law School of Southwest University of Political Science and Law, China.
Huazhong Tu
Huazhong Tu is a scholar at Southwest University of Political Science and Law in China.
