The Chinese language has become an essential tool to deepen ties with the world’s second-largest economy.
Saudi second graders will take Mandarin lessons two classes a week, assisted by a Chinese-speaking facilitator. / Photo: AFP
Last month, Saudi Arabia made it compulsory for Mandarin lessons to be taught to secondary class students in public and private secondary schools, the Saudi Gazette news portal reported. This means students coming for the new academic session, which started on August 13 will have to learn Mandarin. The decision comes on the back of an agreement, which Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman signed with Chinese authorities in 2019 to promote the use of Mandarin in the oil-rich kingdom.China is Saudi Arabia’s biggest buyer of oil, while the Arab nation, the Middle East’s economic powerhouse, depends significantly on its growing trade ties with Beijing as it aims to diversify the economy away from petroleum.
In the UAE, Mandarin has already been introduced as a third language after Arabic and English in public schools.
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