relations After World War II, the Republic of China (Taiwan) maintained diplomatic relations with only a few Middle Eastern countries, one of which was Saudi Arabia. The Hui Muslim General Ma Bufang was appointed as the first Republic of China ambassador to Saudi Arabia. Ma Chengxiang and Ma Bufang settled in Saudi Arabia. This was for two reasons. The first reason was largely out of "economic necessity," as Saudi Arabia was the largest supplier of oil to Taiwan, with Taiwan's state-run Chinese Petroleum Company importing about 40% of its oil annually from Saudi Arabia. Because Taiwan was so reliant on Saudi Arabia's oil supplies, Taiwan put a significant amount of effort into maintaining relations. The second reason for Taiwan's ROC government warm policy towards Saudi Arabia is because since 1949, Saudi Arabia was an influential countries that recognized ROC as only China, even after ROC lost its seat in the UN Security Council in 1971. Citing respect for Islamic religion was another. Ma Bufang and his son Ma Jiyuan established a Chinese Hui Muslim community in Saudi Arabia's Hejaz region. Relations between Taiwan and Saudi Arabia began around 1965 and were initially based on an agricultural relationship. As a way to demonstrate rice cultivation, Taiwan sent agricultural missions to Saudi Arabia. Then, in 1973, the two countries signed an agricultural cooperation agreement, in which Taiwan provided Saudi Arabia with a number of assistance programs, including irrigation, mechanized cultivation, soil, meteorology, crop rotation, and fishing technology. In 1978, Taiwan also began providing technical assistance in the field of health care. Taiwan has even provided Saudi Arabia with a number of doctors and nurses. Taiwan has also provided significant technical assistance to Saudi Arabia. In 1973, Taiwan's largest heavy construction company, Ret-Ser Engineering Agency (RSEA), began working on the 110-kilometer Mecca to Hawiya highway in Saudi Arabia. This led to other large projects, including the $100.4 million Shaar highway, the construction of an industrial park and sewage system, offshore and onshore work in the Saudi Naval Expansion Program, and housing for the King Abdulaziz Military Academy and King Khalid Military City. As of 1984, RSEA's projects in Taiwan amounted to a total dollar value of $1.3 billion. The majority of trade between the two nations consisted of petroleum from Saudi Arabia and building materials and consumer goods from Taiwan. Bilateral visits The first diplomatic visit between Saudi Arabia and the People's Republic