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Abu Dhabi
CNN
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Years of evolving relations between oil-rich Saudi Arabia and China, an economic giant in the east, This week culminates during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s multi-day state visit to Riyadh, where a number of agreements and summits were reached, heralding a “new era” of Sino-Arab partnership Arabic.
Xi, who landed on Wednesday and departed on Friday, eager to show its Arab partners the value of China as the world’s largest oil consumer and how it can contribute to the region’s growth , including in the energy, security and defense sectors.
The trip is seen by many as another snob to Washington, where holding grievances against both countries through some problems.
The United States, which has for more than eight decades valued its strategic alliance with Saudi Arabia, is today looking back to old partners in search of new friends – especially with China, whose fear is expanding its sphere of influence worldwide.
While Saudi Arabia is keen to refute concepts of polarization or “take sides,” it has also shown that with China it can develop a deep partnership without criticized or “interfered” with which it has long resented its Western partners.
Here are five key takeaways from Xi’s visit to Saudi Arabia.
During Xi Jinping’s visit, Saudi Arabia and China issued a joint statement of nearly 4,000 words outlining their positions. links on a variety of political issues, and promises deeper cooperation with many other parties. From space research, the digital economy and infrastructure to Iran’s nuclear program, Yemen’s war and Russia’s war with Ukraine, Riyadh and Beijing all want to show they agree on most important policies.
“There’s a lot of alignment on key issues,” Saudi author and analyst Ali Shihabi told CNN. “Remember that this relationship has built considerably over the past six years, so this visit is simply the culmination of that journey.”
The two countries also agreed to cooperate on the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and to cooperate in the development of modern technologies such as artificial intelligence and innovation in the energy sector.
“I think what they’re doing is saying that on most issues that they consider relevant or important to themselves locally and regionally, they see each other as important partners that are really very close. close,” said Jonathan Fulton, a non-resident senior fellow at Atlantic. Council think tanks.
“Do they agree on everything? Probably not, but [they are] almost anyone can be, he said.
Traditionally, an unwritten agreement between Saudi Arabia and the United States has been the understanding that the kingdom provides oil, while the United States provides military security and assists the kingdom in its fight against the kingdom. against enemies in the region, namely Iran and its armed proxies.
The kingdom has been very concerned lately stay away from this traditional dealsays diversification is essential to Riyadh’s current vision.
During the summit between China and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in Riyadh, Xi said China wants to build on the existing GCC-China energy cooperation relationship. The Chinese leader said the republic would continue to “consistently and in large quantities import crude oil from the GCC, as well as increase imports of natural gas” from the region.
China is the world’s largest oil buyerwith Saudi Arabia as its top supplier.
And on Friday, Saudi Arabia’s national oil giant Aramco and Shandong Energy Group said they were exploring a partnership on integrated refining and petrochemical opportunities in China, the United States and China. Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
The statements come amid global energy shortages, as well as repeated Western pleas for Oil producers increase output.
The kingdom this year made one of its biggest investments in China with Aramco’s $10 billion investment in a refinery and petrochemical complex in northeast China.
China also looks forward to cooperating with Saudi Arabia on security and defense, an important area once reserved for the kingdom’s US ally.
Confused by what they see as a growing threat from Iran and a waning U.S. security presence in the region, Saudi Arabia and its Gulf neighbors have recently turned to the east when it comes to arms purchases. gas.
One of the most sacred concepts cherished by China is the principle of “non-interference in public affairs”, which since the 1950s has been one of the main ideals of the republic.
Started as the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence between China, India and Myanmar in 1954, it was later adopted by a number of countries unwilling to choose between the US and the Soviet Union during the Cold War.
Today, Saudi Arabia is keen to apply the concept to its political rhetoric as it tightens ties between its traditional Western allies, the eastern bloc and Russia.
Non-interference in each other’s internal affairs may mean not commenting on domestic policy or criticizing human rights records.
One of the main hurdles complicating Saudi Arabia’s relationship with the US and other Western powers is repeated criticism of domestic and foreign policy. This is most noticeable in The murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Yemen war and the kingdom’s oil policy – which US politicians accuse Riyadh of weaponizing to side with Russia in its war with Ukraine.
China has similar grievances against the West amid international concern over Taiwan, a democratically administered island of 24 million people that Beijing claims as its territory, as well as other countries. human rights abuses against the Uighurs and other ethnic groups in western China. Xinjiang region (which Beijing has denied).
The agreed principle of non-interference also means that, when needed, internal matters “can be discussed privately but not openly as Western politicians are accustomed to,” Shihabi said. for domestic political purposes”.
During his visit, Mr. Xi urged GCC partners to “make the most of the Shanghai Petroleum Exchange as a platform to conduct oil and gas purchases in Chinese currency”.
This move would bring China closer to its goal of strengthening its international currency, while also significantly weakening the US dollar and potentially impacting the US economy.
While many people wait for decisions on rumors of switching from US dollars to Chinese yuan In regards to oil trading, no announcements have been made on that front. Beijing and Riyadh have not confirmed rumors that the two sides are discussing abandoning the oil dollar.
Analysts see the decision as a logical development in China’s energy relationship with Saudi Arabia, but say it will likely take longer.
“That [abandonment of the petrodollar] the end is inevitable as China as the Kingdom’s biggest customer has significant leverage,” Shihabi said, “Though I don’t expect that to happen in the near future.”
The US was quite quiet before Xi’s visit. Although few have commented, some have speculated that there is growing anxiety behind closed doors.
John Kirby, strategic communications coordinator at the US National Security Council, at the start of the visit said it was “no surprise” that Mr. Xi traveled around the world and to the Middle East, and the US “Mindful of the influence China is trying to develop around the world.”
Shaojin Chai, an assistant professor at the University of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates, told CNN: “This visit may not significantly expand China’s influence but signals a continued decline in China’s influence. US influence in the region.
However, Saudi Arabia is keen to refute notions of polarization, arguing that it is futile.
Speaking at a news conference on Friday, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud stressed that the kingdom was “focused on cooperation with all parties”.
“Competition is a good thing,” he added, “And I think we are in a competitive market.”
Part of that competitive effort, he said, comes with “collaborating with as many parties as possible.”
The foreign minister added that the kingdom felt it was important to engage fully with its traditional partner, the US, as well as other emerging economies such as China.
“Americans may perceive that their message is very ineffective on this,” Fulton said, often “preaching” to partners about working with China “rather than offering a consistent strategy for working with their allies and partners.”
“There seems to be a big difference between how many countries view China and the way the United States sees it. And with Washington’s credit, I think they’re starting to realize that.”
