China’s president is embarking on a charm offensive in the Middle East. As Saudi Arabia quarrels with Washington, Xi is set to receive a grand reception. Contracts worth $30 billion are expected.
China has launched its largest ever diplomatic offensive in the Arab world: According to Chinese state media, President Xi Jinping arrived in Saudi Arabia in the afternoon for a visit. The meeting between the global economic powerhouse and the Gulf energy giant comes at a time when Saudi Arabia-US relations have been strained by Washington’s criticism of the human rights record in Riyadh and Saudi support for cutting oil production in front of the US Congressional elections in November are burdened.
According to the Saudi state news agency SPA, the Chinese delegation is expected to sign deals worth $30 billion with Saudi Arabia this week, as well as agreements with other Arab states. Xi’s trip includes direct talks with Saudi Arabia, but also a meeting with the other Gulf countries and another summit with Arab leaders. The Chinese Foreign Ministry spoke of an “epochal milestone in the history of the development of Sino-Arab relations”.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is expected to give Xi a lavish reception. In July, on the other hand, he greeted US President Joe Biden in a cool manner because of his criticism of Saudi Arabia. The Gulf state is frustrated by Washington’s gradual withdrawal from the Middle East, which it sees as a threat to its security guarantees.
“Beijing does not burden its partners with demands or political expectations and does not interfere in their internal affairs,” Saudi columnist Abdulrahman Al-Rashed wrote in the Saudi-owned newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat. Unlike Washington, however, Beijing has good relations with Riyadh’s regional rival, Iran. Iran is another oil supplier to China, the world’s largest energy consumer.
