Saudi Arabia wants to cooperate with China, not compete, the kingdom’s energy minister said on Sunday, saying he was “ignoring” Western suspicions about their growing ties, Reuters reported.

As the world’s largest oil exporter, Saudi Arabia’s bilateral relationship with the world’s largest energy consumer is based on hydrocarbon ties.

But cooperation between Riyadh and Beijing has also deepened in security and sensitive technology amid closer political ties, a concern of the US.

Responding to a question about criticism of bilateral relations during an Arab-China business conference, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said: “Actually, I ignore them because… as a businessman… you will go where you are given an opportunity. We need not be faced with any choice that has to do (he says) with ourselves or others.’

Chinese businessmen and investors gathered in Riyadh for a conference that took place a few days after the visit of US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.

In March, state oil giant Saudi Aramco announced two major deals to boost multibillion-dollar investments in China and strengthen its position as China’s top oil supplier.

The deals were the biggest to be announced since Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Saudi Arabia in December, where he called for oil to be traded in yuan, easing the dollar’s dominance.

“The demand for oil from China is still growing, so of course we need to meet some of that demand. Instead of competing with China, cooperate with China,” Prince Abdulaziz said.

The two countries’ momentum also raised the prospect of a successful conclusion to the free trade agreement negotiations between China and the Saudi-dominated Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which have been ongoing since 2004.

Saudi Arabia’s Investment Minister Khalid Al Falih said any deal must protect emerging industries in the Gulf as the region begins to diversify into non-oil economic sectors.