Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 Law and Political Science, Political Science and International Relations, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
2 Political Science, Law and Political Science, Shiraz, Shiraz, Iran
Abstract
China and Saudi Arabia have, following the developments known as the Arab Spring, expanded their relations from traditional cooperation centered on energy trade to a multidimensional strategic partnership, in light of the geopolitical changes in the Middle East and structural transformations in the international system. In this context, explaining the foundations and imperatives underlying this transformation, as well as the role of foreign direct investment (FDI) in deepening bilateral relations, has become an important issue in international political economy. Accordingly, this study aims to examine the imperatives and foundations underlying the advancement of China–Saudi Arabia relations in the post-Arab Spring period, with particular emphasis on the political economy of foreign direct investment. The main research question is: What imperatives and foundations have contributed to the deepening of bilateral relations, and what role has foreign direct investment played in this process? The study hypothesizes that the advancement of China–Saudi Arabia relations has resulted from the synergy between the structural imperatives of the international system and the national needs of both countries, while foreign direct investment, as a strategic instrument, has transformed this convergence into sustained economic, technological, and political cooperation. This study employs a mixed-methods approach (qualitative–quantitative) with a descriptive-analytical framework, drawing on structural realism as its theoretical framework and utilizing library-based sources, official documents, reputable international reports, and official statistical data. The findings indicate that the convergence between Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has constituted the most important platform for expanding bilateral cooperation. Foreign direct investment, moreover, has evolved beyond a merely economic instrument into a mechanism for strengthening energy security, developing infrastructure, facilitating technology transfer, diversifying strategic partners, and enhancing the regional and international standing of both countries. Therefore, the deepening of China–Saudi Arabia relations should be understood as the outcome of the interaction among the structural imperatives of the international system, national interests, and the political economy of foreign investment.
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