china and saudi arabia are major allies, with relationship between the two countries growing significantly in recent decades. majority of saudi arabians also expressed a favorable view of china. in february 2019, crown prince mohammad defended china's xinjiang re-education camps for uyghur muslims, saying "china has the right to carry out anti-terrorism and de-extremisation work for its national security." in july 2019, un ambassadors of 37 countries, including saudi arabia, have signed a joint letter to the unhrc defending china's treatment of uyghurs and other muslim minority groups in the xinjiang region.