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January 20th, 2016 
Awake Goy 
Christof Lehmann (nsnbc) : Chinese President Xi Jinping bagan his three nations Middle East visit in Saudi Arabia. China and Saudi Arabia elevated bilateral relations to that of a comprehensive strategic partnership. Xi also met Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Abdul Latif Bin Rashid Al Zayani. One of Xi Jinping’s goals is to help defuse tensions between GCC members and Iran.
Xi Jinping arrives in Riyadh. Courtesu Xinhua.
China and Saudi Arabia agreed to elevate bilateral relations to that of a comprehensive strategic partnership. Following talks between President Xi Jinping and Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud the two countries also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on industrial cooperation. The document reportedly states that the two countries will jointly pursue China’s proposed “Belt and Road Initiative”. The latter is part of China’s New Silk Road Project that spans from east Asia to Europe and the Middle East. Addressing the press, Xi commented on bilateral relations, saying:
“I believe it will deepen the mutual strategic trust, lead to greater achievements in our mutually beneficial cooperation, and help facilitate and broaden our shared interests in international and regional affairs.”
Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud commented that he perceives the Belt and Road Initiative as beneficial for both countries. The New Silk Road project was launched by China in 2013 and is the greatest international infrastructure project of the 21st century. The project focuses on establishing on various types of transportation infrastructure projects throughout Asia, the Middle East, the Caucasus and Russia, with the possibility to extent the project to western Europe.
The two heads of State agreed to boost strategic communication, maximize the synergy of their development plans, build a stable long-term energy cooperation, and promote dialogues between the civilizations. Xi also pledged that China would make the Chinese-launched Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) a win-win financing platform whereby regional inter-connectivity can receive a boost.
Courtesy Xinhua
Xi and Salman noted that both appreciate progress made with regard to talks about the establishment of a free trade area between China and GCC member States. China and Saudi Arabia signed a number of agreements covering the energy sector, communications, environment, culture, aerospace, science and technology. Saudi Arabia is China’s biggest global supplier of crude oil and its biggest trading partner in West Asia and Africa. In 2013, China became the biggest trading partner of Saudi Arabia for the first time. Two-way trade reached 69.1 billion U.S. dollars in 2014, growing by 230 times over that of 1990 when the two countries established diplomatic ties. The Chinese President was awarded the King Abdulaziz Medal by Salman, the highest order in Saudi Arabia.
Xi is the first Chinese President to visit Saudi Arabia in seven years. Xi”s visit to the Middle East lasts three days and also includes visits to Egypt and Iran. Earlier this month the Chinese government published “China’s Arab Policy Paper for 2016″.
Salman and Xi also discussed regional security issues including the situation in Yemen as well as the diplomatic crisis between Saudi Arabia and other GCC member States on one hand, and Iran, as well as large segments of Iraq on the other. The crisis erupted after Saudi Arabia executed 47, including the controversial Shi’ite cleric Nimr Al-Nimr. Iran is an important partner in China’s New Silk Road project.
China is the largest importer of oil from Iran while Saudi Arabia is the greatest exporter of oil to China. A conflict between Iran and GCC members would lead to threatening shipping through the Persian Gulf (Arab Gulf) and arguably, a global energy crisis. Egypt, for its part, notes that the war in Yemen could threaten shipping via the Suez Canal. Iran is backing rebelling Houthi in Yemen while Saudi Arabia and other launched a war against the Houthi. Egypt has reluctantly entered the alliance against the Houthi but limits its participation to securing that the vital Ban Al-Mandeb Strait remains safe and open.
Xi Jinping also met GCC Secretary-General Abdul Latif Bin Rashid Al Zayani. The two reportedly discussed progress with regard to talks about the China – GCC Free Trade Zone and regional issues.
CH/L – nsnbc 20.01.2016
Related article:
China’s Xi Jinping Heads for Middle East – Defusing an Explosive Region
Source Article from http://nsnbc.me/2016/01/20/70647/
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