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RIYADH: Projects to preserve and restore important religious and historic sites in Madinah have brought a growing number of visitors to the area.

The work by the Madinah Region Development Authority includes ongoing restoration of the Battle of the Trench site and surrounding areas, where followers of the Prophet Muhammad dug a deep trench to fortify themselves against attack in 627 C.E.

A place that holds deep religious and historical significance for Muslims, the redevelopment includes restoring several mosques and other significant sites.

The authority is also redeveloping the Miqat of Dhu Al-Hulaifah, where the Prophet Muhammed entered the ritual state of Ihram before performing the Umrah pilgrimage. The initiative is focused on expanding the mosque’s facilities and improving services.

Over the past year, several Madinah landmarks have been enhanced with modern amenities and new guide services using digital technologies. Other upgrades include the installation of pedestrian facilities around the city’s central area and near the Prophet’s Mosque, such as electric vehicle access and a pedestrian path to Quba Mosque, and landscaping and public amenities.

The Rua Al-Madinah Project is a major development featuring an extensive tunnel network and numerous luxury hotels which will contribute to the target of increasing the holy city’s hospitality capacity to 30 million visitors by 2030.

The Al-Matal Project, another new initiative, features integrated tourist and recreational facilities built into the mountainside of the Al-Jamawat neighborhood.

The schemes will enrich the Madinah visitor experience, a key objective of Saudi Vision 2030.

RIYADH: The Chinese Embassy in �������� hosted a reception on Thursday in Riyadh’s Cultural Palace to mark the 98th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Liberation Army.

“The Chinese and Saudi people have a friendship and connection of more than 2,000 years,” said Zhu Je, the armed defense attache at the embassy.

He added that the two nations celebrated this week the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, which began on July 21, 1990.

In his opening remarks, Zhu highlighted the growing relations between the two nations. “China has become ��������’s largest trading partner; �������� is China’s largest trading partner in the Middle East,” he said.

President Xi Jinping and ��������’s leaders have worked on developing a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership since 2022, Zhu said.

“In 2024, by instructions of the Saudi leaders, His Royal Highness Prince Khalid bin Salman visited China, Sino-Saudi military relationship was upgraded to strategic level.

“Chief of general staff, His Excellency Gen. Fayyadh Al-Ruwaili, led series of delegations to China, achieving solid results in multiple cooperation fields,” he said.

Zhu said the Chinese armed forces was created as a part of the country’s struggle for national unification and independence.

He said over the past 98 years, “led by the Chinese Communist Party and supported by the people, it has won more than 200 significant battles and defeated more than 10 million enemies.”

This had made a “great contribution to the independence, safety and development of the country, having become a strong force to deter aggression and threats.”

On the region, Zhu said China wants to play a constructive role in  promoting peace and stability. “China calls for (an) immediate and sustained ceasefire in Gaza, opposes the deportation of the Gaza people.

“China, together with �������� advocate that the Palestinian issue should be resolved comprehensively, justly and lastingly on the basis of the two-state solution,” he said.

There were several ambassadors and defense officials at the reception, including Chinese Ambassador Chang Hua, who hosted the event alongside Zhu.

Zhu added: “I would again express our sincere gratitude to the Saudi leaders and people, especially the Armed Forces, the Ministry of Interior, the National Guard and other security institutions.”