SCMP "Xi Jinping to Visit Saudi Arabia Early Next Month"

Expert: "A New Milestone in China-Arab Relations"

Xi Jinping Photo by AP Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo Yujin] Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit Saudi Arabia early next month. This move is interpreted as an effort to check the United States amid conflicts between the US and Saudi Arabia over oil production cuts.

On the 26th, Hong Kong's South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that President Xi is likely to visit Saudi Arabia in conjunction with the upcoming Arab League summit next month.

The news of the Arab League summit was revealed during an interview between Li Xihang, the Chinese Consul General in Dubai, and the Dubai daily Al Bayan.

Regarding the Arab League summit, it has not yet been officially announced which leaders, including President Xi, will attend.

While the Chinese side has not commented on whether President Xi will visit Saudi Arabia, Western media and Saudi diplomatic officials have already accepted his visit within this year as a fait accompli.

Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, announced after a video conference with Wang Yi, China’s Foreign Minister, at the end of October that President Xi would visit Saudi Arabia.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) also recently reported, citing sources, that President Xi will visit Saudi Arabia in December.

This meeting takes place amid tensions between the US and Saudi Arabia over issues such as oil production cuts.

SCMP stated that China is actively seeking to strengthen relations with Saudi Arabia, the Arab leader that is in a tense relationship with the US over sensitive issues like human rights and oil production cuts.

Diplomatic sources evaluated that this meeting will mark a new milestone in China-Arab relations. President Xi last visited Saudi Arabia in 2016.

Li Xiaoxian, a Middle East expert at Ningxia University, said, "There is a high possibility that President Xi will visit Saudi Arabia," adding, "Cooperation between the two sides is expected to expand significantly beyond the energy sector."

He predicted, "They can cooperate in various technological fields including space, and furthermore, this could be an opportunity to comprehensively develop bilateral relations in all areas."

Wang Jin, a Middle East professor at Xibei University in Xi’an, China, said, "This meeting will serve as a new stepping stone for cooperation between the two countries." He further analyzed, "The US may feel that this meeting encroaches on their interests or will work favorably for China’s future development."