Beijing Trade between China and Saudi Arabia has been growing rapidly in recent years, with trade volume reaching $14.5 billion in the first 11 months of 2005, led primarily by oil exports to the Asian giant. Kong called the figure "an astonishing growth" since it is far higher than the national average of 23 percent. China imported 20.01 million tons of crude oil from Saudi Arabia during January to November last year, Kong said. Cooperation and exchanges between the two countries in such fields as culture, public health, science, technology and telecommunications are also active, he pointed out. Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, has offered Chinese businessmen and companies investment opportunities worth $624 billion in vital sectors such as petrochemicals, gas, desalination, power generation and railways, according to the report of Arab News.--MORE 12 04 Local Time 09 04 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/320179