Saudi Aramco, the world's biggest oil company, could sell further shares including to international investors within the next year or two, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in a television interview.

"There are talks now for the acquisition of a 1 per cent stake by a leading global energy company in an important deal that would boost Aramco's sales in ... a major country," he said, without elaborating.

"There are talks with other companies for different stakes, and part of Aramco's shares could be transferred to the (Saudi) Public Investment Fund and a part listed ... on the Saudi bourse," he said in an interview aired by Saudi TV marking the fifth anniversary of Vision 2030.

Sovereign wealth fund China Investment Corporation (CIC) was among those that could invest.

Aramco had been in touch with Chinese investors for a few years and CIC is the most likely investor, said a source with a state-backed private equity fund.

"The kingdom does have close relations with China," said a third source, who is close to Aramco. "The major shareholder will decide what to do with their shares."

Another source said before the Covid-19 pandemic, Aramco had toured around China looking for investors, talking to all the major state investors with overseas money, but few were interested. CIC and China's Silk Road Fund were also among the firms they approached.

Aramco, the world's biggest oil company, listed on the Saudi bourse in late 2019, raising $25.6 billion in the IPO and later sold more shares under a "greenshoe option" to raise the total to $29.4 billion.

The 2019 Aramco IPO was seen as a pillar of the economic diversification programme aimed at attracting foreign investment.

A stake of 1 per cent would equate to around $19 billion based on Aramco's current market capitalization.