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Saudi Arabia Open to Currency Alternatives for Trade

Saudi Arabia's finance minister, Mohammed Al-Jadaan, stated that the kingdom is open to discussing trade in currencies other than the US dollar.

Mohammed Al-Jadaan, Minister of Finance of Saudi Arabia
Mohammed Al-Jadaan, Minister of Finance of Saudi Arabia

In an interview with Bloomberg TV, Al-Jadaan said, "There are no issues with discussing how we settle our trade arrangements, whether it is in the US dollar, whether it is the euro, whether it is the Saudi riyal."

This statement comes as Saudi Arabia seeks to strengthen relations with crucial trade partners, including China. For decades, the world's largest oil exporter has had a currency peg to the dollar.

Mohammed Al-Jadaan, Minister of Finance of Saudi Arabia
Mohammed Al-Jadaan, Minister of Finance of Saudi Arabia

Still, during President Xi Jinping's visit to Riyadh last year, the two countries agreed to boost energy policy and exploration coordination. China expressed interest in buying more oil from the Middle East and settling the trade in the yuan.

In addition to its relationship with China, Saudi Arabia is also working to strengthen ties with other nations, including the US and Europe, and supports nations it deems "vulnerable," such as Pakistan, Turkey, and Egypt. The minister said Saudi Arabia is looking to invest $10 billion in Pakistan and is discussing with the World Bank and other institutions how to provide more support.

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