Chinese tech firms deepen ties in Saudi Arabia
A senior Saudi official pledged to deepen ties with China, touting a 'great wave' of scientific innovation from China, at the LEAP technology event in Riyadh. Deals announced include WeRide adding up to 10,000 robotaxis in Riyadh, HUMAIN commissioning an Arabic-language model from MiniMax, and Tencent Cloud securing a Saudi operating license. Lenovo plans to mass-produce a laptop in Riyadh by year-end.
Why it matters: This illustrates the theme of technology competition, as Saudi Arabia becomes a focal point for China's tech outreach, challenging US dominance in the Global South.