China increases Middle East diplomatic activity with Iran and Oman meetings
Foreign Minister Wang Yi met Iranian and Saudi officials in Beijing as President Xi Jinping hosted Oman's Sultan.
China is increasing its diplomatic engagement in the Middle East, according to reports from Al Jazeera and Moneycontrol. On Monday, Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Ali Bagheri Kani, the deputy secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, and Saudi Arabia’s National Security Adviser Musaed bin Mohammed Al-Aiban in Beijing.
During the meeting with the Iranian official, Wang stated that dialogue and negotiation are the only viable ways to resolve regional conflicts. He also expressed China's support for the sovereignty and security of Iran. Al Jazeera reported that China is Iran's largest trading partner and biggest customer of Iranian crude.
In a separate meeting, President Xi Jinping hosted Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq for a state visit. Xi stated that the Middle East and Gulf region should not be used as a site for geopolitical conflict or rivalry between great powers. The two nations signed 14 cooperation documents covering supply chains, green energy, and artificial intelligence.
A joint statement from China and Oman called for the resumption of safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and urged the US and Iran to restart talks. The Sultan also expressed support for China's peace proposals for the region.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Zhai Jun, the special envoy on the Middle East, will visit Iran, Oman, and Saudi Arabia later this month.
