China is Saudi Arabia's Largest Trading Partner

Saudi Arabia's largest trading partner is not a Muslim country, but China, a communist country. According to Comtrade data, the value of Saudi Arabia's trade with China reached US$51.83 billion (approximately Rp712 trillion) in 2015. This is the largest amount compared to Saudi Arabia's transactions with other trading partners. Saudi Arabia even recorded a trade surplus of US$8.47 billion with China. Saudi Arabia's exports reached US$30.15 billion, while imports were only US$21.68 billion.

The United States is Saudi Arabia's second-largest trading partner with a transaction value of US$43.1 billion, and South Korea is third with a transaction value of US$29 billion. Meanwhile, Indonesia is ranked 17th, with a trade transaction value of only US$5.5 billion.

King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud's visit to several Asian countries, including Indonesia, can be utilized to increase Indonesia's trade transactions with Saudi Arabia. Indonesia has consistently experienced a trade deficit with Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, King Salman's visit, accompanied by several ministers, can also be leveraged to increase Saudi Arabian investment in Indonesia. Because, until now, Saudi Arabian investment in Indonesia remains low, less than one million US dollars in 2016.