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abu dhabi
CNN
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The development of years of ties between oil-rich Saudi Arabia and China, the economic powerhouse in the east This week has reached its climax Chinese President Xi Jinping’s multi-day state visit to Riyadh has seen a number of agreements and summits, ushering in a “new era” of China-Arab partnership.
Xi, who landed on wednesday Depart on Friday to demonstrate to Arab counterparts China’s value as the world’s largest oil consumer and how China can contribute to regional growth, including in the areas of energy, security and defense. was enthusiastic about
travel was widely seen yet another snub to Washington holding Complaints Against Both States on some issues.
The United States, which has cherished its strategic alliance with Saudi Arabia for more than 80 years, is today seeking new friends and finding old partners, especially with China.
Saudi Arabia was keen to reject the notion of polarization and “support one side”, but a deep partnership with China without the criticism and “interference” that the West has long resented. It also shows that it can be built.
Here are five key takeaways from President Xi’s visit to Saudi Arabia.
During President Xi’s visit, Saudi Arabia and China issued a joint statement of nearly 4,000 words, Cooperation on a range of political issues, and many others promise deeper cooperation. From space research, the digital economy and infrastructure to Iran’s nuclear program, the war in Yemen and Russia’s war in Ukraine, Riyadh and Beijing enthusiastically showed they agreed on most major policies.
“We are very unanimous on key issues,” Saudi author and analyst Ali Shihabi told CNN. “Remember, this relationship has been dramatically built over the past six years, and this visit was just the culmination of that journey.”
The two countries also agreed to cooperate in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, cooperate in the development of cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, and innovate in the energy sector.
Jonathan Fulton, a non-resident senior fellow at The Atlantic, said, “What they’re doing is really helping each other out on most issues that they deem relevant or important nationally and regionally.” I think you’re saying that we see it as a close and important partner to the Council’s think tank.
“Are they aligned on all issues? Probably not, [they are] Everyone is as close as they can be,” he said.
A tacit agreement between Saudi Arabia and the United States traditionally has meant that while the kingdom provides oil, the United States provides military security and the kingdom in its fight against regional enemies, i.e. Iran and its proxies. It was my understanding that I would support
The kingdom recently Away from this traditional agreementsays diversification is essential to Riyadh’s current vision.
At a summit meeting between China and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member countries in Riyadh, President Xi said China wants to further develop the current GCC-China energy cooperation. China’s leader said the republic will continue to “consistently import large volumes of crude oil from the GCC and increase natural gas imports” from the region.
China is the world’s largest buyer of oilSaudi Arabia is its top supplier.
And on Friday, Saudi Arabia’s state oil giant Aramco and Shandong Energy Group said they were exploring cooperation on integrated refining and petrochemical opportunities in China, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
The statement was made amid global energy shortages and repeated pleas by the West. Oil-producing countries will increase production.
The kingdom has already made one of its biggest investments in China this year with Aramco’s $10 billion investment in a refinery and petrochemical complex in northeast China.
China is also eager to cooperate with Saudi Arabia on security and defense, a key area once reserved for Saudi Arabia’s ally the United States.
Plagued by growing threats from Iran and a declining US security presence in the region, Saudi Arabia and its Gulf states have recently looked east when purchasing weapons.
One of the most sacred concepts that China holds dear is the principle of non-interference in mutual affairs, which has been one of the key ideals of the republic since the 1950s.
What began as the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence between China, India, and Myanmar in 1954 was subsequently adopted by many nations during the Cold War that were unwilling to choose between the United States and the Soviet Union. rice field.
Today, Saudi Arabia is keen to adopt the concept into its political rhetoric as it walks a tightrope between its traditional Western allies, the Eastern Bloc and Russia.
Not interfering in each other’s internal affairs probably means not commenting on domestic policies or criticizing human rights records.
One of the main obstacles complicating Saudi Arabia’s relations with the United States and other Western countries has been repeated criticism of its domestic and foreign policies. This was most notable with regard to the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, the war in Yemen, and Saudi Arabia’s oil policy. US politicians have accused Riyadh of side-arming Russia in a war with Ukraine.
China harbors similar resentment toward the West amid international concerns over Taiwan, the democratically governed island of 24 million people that Beijing claims as its territory. It also commits human rights abuses against Uyghurs and other ethnic groups in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region in western China (controlled by the Chinese government). rejected).
According to Shihabi, the agreed upon principle of non-interference states that, if necessary, domestic affairs “can be discussed in private, but not as much as is customary for Western politicians to do for domestic political purposes.” It also means that it cannot be raised publicly.
During his visit, Xi urged GCC counterparts to “make the most of the Shanghai Oil and Gas Exchange as a platform for selling oil and gas using the renminbi.”
The move could bring China closer to its goal of strengthening its currency internationally, causing the U.S. dollar to weaken significantly and impacting the U.S. economy.
While many decisions are pending, Rumored US Dollar to Chinese Yuan Migration As for the oil deal, there was no announcement on that front. Beijing and Riyadh have not confirmed rumors that the two sides are discussing abandoning the petrodollar.
Analysts see the decision as a logical development in the China-Saudi energy relationship, but say it will likely take longer.
“or [abandonment of the petrodollar] Ultimately it is inevitable because China, the kingdom’s biggest customer, has a lot of influence,” said Shihabi.
The United States has reacted fairly quietly to Xi’s visit. The comments were minimal, but some speculated that anxiety was mounting behind closed doors.
John Kirby, the strategic communications coordinator for the U.S. National Security Council, said at the outset of the visit that it was “not surprising” that Xi has traveled around the world and the Middle East, saying the United States “has to is about to expand its influence around the world.”
Shaojin Chai, an assistant professor at the University of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates, told CNN, “This visit will not materially increase China’s influence, and it will continue to weaken America’s influence in the region. It shows that there is,” he said.
Saudi Arabia, however, was keen to deny the concept of polarization and considered it useless.
At a press conference on Friday, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud stressed that the kingdom is “focused on working with all stakeholders”.
“Competition is a good thing, and I think we are in a competitive market.”
Part of the competitive drive, he said, is the need to “cooperate with as many stakeholders as possible.”
The Kingdom feels it is important to engage fully with its traditional partner the United States and other emerging economies such as China, he added.
“Americans probably recognize that their messaging on this issue has been very ineffective,” Fulton said, noting that working with allies and partners to come up with a coherent strategy is not normal. Instead, they are “lecturing” their partners about working with China.
“There seems to be a big gap between how many countries see China and how the United States sees it. To Washington’s credit, I think they are starting to realize that.”
