China's Xi in Saudi Arabia to deepen economic and strategic ties
PRESIDENT Xi Jinping arrived in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday (Dec 7), on a visit Beijing hailed as its biggest diplomatic initiative in the Arab world.
The meeting between the East Asian powerhouse and Gulf energy giant comes as Riyadh expands its global alliances beyond long-standing ties with the West.
Saudi ties with Washington have been strained by the US’ criticism of its human rights record and Saudi support for oil output curbs before the November mid-term elections.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is expected to offer Xi a lavish welcome, in contrast with the low-key reception for US President Joe Biden in July. Then, the US’ censure of Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler formed the backdrop for a strained meeting.
Xi’s trip includes direct talks with Saudi Arabia, a wider meeting with the six-nation Gulf Arab alliance, and a summit with Arab leaders. Foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said the summit will be “an epoch-making milestone in the history of the development of China-Arab relations”.
Beijing hopes it will make a strong statement on strengthening “unity and cooperation”, she added.
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Saudi Arabia has been frustrated by what it sees as Washington’s gradual disengagement from the Middle East, as well as a slow erosion of its security guarantees. China offers an opportunity for economic gains without the tensions which have come to cloud the US relationship.
Writing for the state-owned Asharq Al-Aswat newspaper, Saudi columnist Abdulrahman Al-Rashed said: “Beijing does not burden its partners with demands or political expectations, and refrains from interfering in their internal affairs.”
Unlike Washington, Beijing has retained good ties with Riyadh’s regional rival Iran, another supplier of oil to China. It has also shown little interest in addressing Saudi political and security concerns in the region.
Growing Chinese influence in the Middle East has unnerved the US, an economic rival of the Asian giant.
The Saudi Press Agency said the Chinese delegation is expected to sign deals worth US$30 billion with Riyadh this week, as well as agreements with other Arab states.
China, the world’s biggest energy consumer, is a major trade partner of Gulf oil-and-gas producers. Saudi Arabia is Beijing’s top oil supplier, and state-run Saudi Aramco has annual supply deals with half a dozen Chinese refiners.
While economic ties remain anchored by energy interests, bilateral ties have expanded under the Gulf’s infrastructure and technology push. This is part of the region’s diversification plans, which have gained importance as the world turns away from fossil fuels.
Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies said they would continue to expand partnerships for their economic and security interests, despite US reservations about their ties with Russia and China.
The US has for decades been Saudi Arabia’s main security guarantor, and remains its main defence supplier. It has expressed security concerns about growing Chinese involvement in sensitive Gulf infrastructure projects. REUTERS
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