The Middle East should not become an arena for great-power rivalry and geopolitical conflict,
Chinese President Xi Jinping said.
China launched a flurry of diplomatic meetings with Gulf leaders on Monday, stepping up its involvement in the Middle East ahead of an anticipated meeting between US President Donald Trump and Xi. The diplomatic push comes as the war triggered by US-Israeli strikes on Iran continues to disrupt regional stability and global energy markets.
Xi Jinping Hosts Oman Sultan Haitham in Historic Visit
President Xi held talks with Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq during a state visit to Beijing on Monday. This marks the first visit by an Omani head of state to China since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1978. Sitting across from Iran on the Strait of Hormuz, Oman is a key player in shipping on the strategic waterway, through which one-fifth of global energy exports traversed before the war restricted traffic.
Wang Yi, China's top diplomat, met with Ali Bagheri Kani, deputy secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) in Beijing on Monday. For more: https://t.co/oBYkbwydQH pic.twitter.com/3bkIgLdH6T
During the visit, China and Oman signed 14 cooperation documents covering artificial intelligence, green energy, supply chains, and a currency swap agreement. Both leaders called for safe commercial shipping to resume through the Strait of Hormuz and urged the US and Iran to restart dialogue.
Wang Yi Meets Iranian and Saudi Officials in Beijing
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held separate back-to-back talks in Beijing with Saudi Arabia’s national security adviser, Musaad bin Mohammed Al Aiban, and the deputy secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Ali Bagheri Kani. It was not immediately clear whether the Iranian and Saudi officials had any contact with each other during their concurrent visits.
Wang told Bagheri Kani that dialogue and negotiation remained the only viable path forward as conflicts in the region drag on. Wang also affirmed that China supported Iran in safeguarding its sovereignty and security. Bagheri Kani stated during the meetings that Iran would not compromise on defending its national security and territorial integrity, describing the US and Israeli acts of aggression as war crimes.
In his meeting with Al Aiban, Wang stated that the regional situation had reached a critical crossroads between war and peace, urging all parties to focus on political solutions. Al Aiban passed on a letter from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman addressed to President Xi, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
Chinese President #XiJinping: Expanding and deepening China-Oman ties is a shared strategic choice pic.twitter.com/Z4aq8KHVZK
China Sends Special Envoy to Visit Middle Eastern Nations
China’s renewed diplomatic urgency is driven in part by economic vulnerabilities. As one of the world’s largest energy importers, Beijing relies heavily on Middle Eastern crude. China buys about 90% of Iran’s crude oil exports, but between April and June, it slashed those imports by 30%, plunging June totals to a decade low as the conflict disrupted shipping lanes.
To further advance these diplomatic efforts, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that special envoy Zhai Jun will visit Iran, Oman, and Saudi Arabia in November to conduct shuttle diplomacy aimed at promoting peace talks and easing regional tensions.
Questions on China’s Middle East Strategy
Why is China stepping up its Middle East diplomacy now?
The diplomatic push arrives before US President Donald Trump is expected to attend the Apec conference in Shenzhen, China, on 18 and 19 November for a highly anticipated meeting with Xi Jinping. Beijing is seeking to position itself as a regional peacemaker.
What role does Oman play in the current crisis?
Oman is positioned across from Iran on the Strait of Hormuz, making it critical for cargo ships and energy transport. Many of Oman’s ports lie outside the strait, providing vital alternative logistics routes while global energy flows remain restricted by the ongoing conflict.
Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik Al Said of Oman arrived in Beijing on Sunday for a state visit to China from November 1 to 2. The visit marks the first by an Omani head of state since the two countries established diplomatic relations 48 years ago. pic.twitter.com/zsW46Pwnm9
What agreements were signed during the Omani visit?
China and Oman signed 14 cooperation agreements covering artificial intelligence, green energy, supply chains, and a bilateral currency swap agreement during Sultan Haitham’s visit to Beijing.
Beijing brokered a detente between Saudi Arabia and Iran in 2023, though its diplomatic impact in the region has been limited since then.
Keep reading