Following a nihao (hello) from the Saudi side, it is now the turn of their Chinese counterparts to reply with a "salaam" by sending some of their national treasures to Riyadh to showcase the prominence of ancient Chinese civilizations.

Treasures of China will open at the National Museum of Saudi Arabia on Sept 13, putting 264 exhibits, including 173 cultural relics, from China on display, it was announced at a news conference in Beijing last week.

This will be the largest Chinese cultural relics exhibition ever to be held in the region, and is due to run until Nov 23.