President Xi Jinping signed an agreement Thursday with King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia to strengthen cooperation between the two countries, one day before the China-Arab States Summit begins. China has become a key partner with countries in the Middle East over the past years, with multiple construction projects under the Belt and Road Initiative, including the Lusail Stadium project for the World Cup in Qatar and the Etihad Rail project to connect the UAE with its neighbors