to boost foreign investments in the country as its own economic engine slows. for clues on what we can expect. mattie bekink of the economist intelligence unit spoke to us. i think one of the reasons that this meeting and the stream of executives and world leaders turning to china in the last few months since the very surprisingly exit from the zero covid and the reopening is because there has been a perception gap that has only widened in the three years that china was close. but i mean by thatis china was close. but i mean by that is the perception of china from outside even those who have businesses here and for whom china is a very important market and the lived reality on the ground. that is true anywhere in the world but i think some of the geopolitical tensions and confusion during the pandemic. particularly contributed to this perception 93p- contributed to this perception gap. so what they will find is, one, but they will discover is a chance to revisit their own tea
looking to boost foreign investments as its own economic engine slows down. earlier eyes spoke to mattie of the ink comp word o connor s intelligence unit who described what economists are finding of not being in china for nearly three years. i being in china for nearly three ears. ~ being in china for nearly three ears. ~ ., ., years. i think one of the reasons years. i think one of the reasons this years. i think one of the reasons this meeting i years. i think one of the l reasons this meeting and years. i think one of the - reasons this meeting and kind of the streams of executives and world leaders we have seen returning to china in the last few months since the surprisingly abrupt exit of zero covid and china s opening there has been a perception gap thatis there has been a perception gap that is only widened in the three years china was closed. wattimena is the perception of china from outside, even those who have businesses here and have teams here, for whom c
to be part of that, and to play a role in that. do you want to be the number one sporting superpower in the world? these events are hosted in all the countries around the world. if we can add to the sporting scene, that is something beneficial for everyone, and why not? i do not see it that we re competing with others. i see that we are playing our role to develop sports within the world and to be a part of the international community. but it is a competitive business. you mention the pro league, the players you have managed to attract are being taken away from other leagues. so do you think the premier league should be worried? are you a threat to the premier league? i think the premier league did that and that is how they started. - nobody questioned them when they did it. as i said, ourfocus is to develop sports within the kingdom, to develop our league, to attract the best in the world to be part of our development. today when you see these players playing on the pitch, t
saudi arabia s investment in sport has gone into overdrive. the country now set to host the 2034 world cup too. but there s also controversy among fears that one of the world s richest oil states is using sports to distract from its human rights record and its impact on the environment. i travelled tojeddah for a rare opportunity to speak to one of the key figures behind the country s remarkable sporting revolution. there seems no end to the number of sports you are investing in. are we at the high point now or are we just beginning the journey? there is a lot, as you said. our ambition is to host the best events around the world in the kingdom for the people of the kingdom to see, but also to invite the world to the kingdom. we have formula 1, i think, is one of them. fifa world cup, and the olympics. these are the highest events that any nation would love to host within their countries. within the 2030 vision, we have targets that we want to host the biggest events to att
forecast to maintain its majority in the country s parliament. now on bbc news, inside the saudi sporting machine. it s the country transforming the sporting landscape, from signing top stars to a revamped football league to an upheaval of professional golf and the staging of boxing s biggest fights. saudi arabia s investment in sport has gone into overdrive. the country now set to host the 2034 world cup too. but there s also controversy among fears that one of the world s richest oil states is using sports to distract from its human rights record and its impact on the environment. i travelled tojeddah for a rare opportunity to speak to one of the key figures behind the country s remarkable sporting revolution. there seems no end to the number of sports you are investing in. are we at the high point now or are wejust beginning the journey? there is a lot, as you said. our ambition is to host the best events around the world in the kingdom for the people of the kingdom to see