Why Xi Jinping Stepped on a 'Purple' Carpet Instead of a Red Carpet During His Visit to Saudi Arabia

Changes in Saudi Government Regulations Since Last Year
Controversy Over 'Cold Shoulder' During Biden's Visit

On the 7th (local time), Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and greeted members of the Saudi royal family who came to welcome him. A purple carpet was laid on the floor. Riyadh=AP·Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Saudi Arabia for the first time in over six years since 2016, drawing international attention as a purple carpet, rather than the usual red carpet typically seen during state visits, was laid out. Earlier, during President Joe Biden's visit in July, the purple carpet also stood out, sparking controversy both inside and outside the U.S. over Saudi Arabia's perceived 'snub'.

Conventionally, the red carpet installed at airports for visiting foreign heads of state is widely accepted internationally, so the controversy over the snub arose. However, the Saudi government strongly denied this. It is known that Saudi Arabia changed its regulations last year to replace the carpet with a lavender color, and all heads of state visiting since then have walked on the purple carpet.

Xi Jinping, warmly welcomed with gun salutes, also walked on the purple carpet

On the 8th (local time), Chinese President Xi Jinping was received by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as he entered the Saudi royal palace. Photo by Lydia, Reuters·Yonhap News

According to Saudi state news agency SPA on the 8th (local time), President Xi arrived at the royal palace in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, and was greeted by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. From the moment his plane landed at the airport the day before, Saudi Arabia escorted Xi's private plane with fighter jets and fired gun salutes to warmly welcome him.

What caught attention at both the airport and the royal palace was the purple carpet. Although international protocol usually dictates a red carpet for visiting heads of state, Saudi Arabia installs a purple carpet instead. Before 2021, all visiting heads of state in Saudi Arabia walked on red carpets, but since last year, the Saudi government officially changed the regulation, replacing all red carpets with purple ones.

According to SPA, the Saudi government declared in May last year that all red carpets would be replaced with purple carpets. The Saudi government emphasized, "Lavender (purple) is a color with significant cultural and civilizational meaning for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This color harmonizes well with the desert and plateau landscapes of the Kingdom, reminiscent of carpets of lavender flowers blooming every spring. It symbolically reflects the Kingdom's message of hospitality and the equality between the land and its citizens."

"Trump had a red carpet, Biden had a purple carpet"... Controversy over snub

President Joe Biden arriving at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah during his visit to Saudi Arabia last July. A purple carpet was laid out at that time as well. Jeddah= AP·Yonhap News

During President Biden's Middle East tour in July, misunderstandings arose due to the purple carpet, leading to controversy over Saudi Arabia's perceived snub of President Biden both domestically and internationally. According to CNN, unlike the red carpet used during former President Donald Trump's visit, the appearance of the purple carpet led to criticism that the Saudi royal family was snubbing President Biden.

At that time, President Biden requested increased oil production from Saudi Arabia ahead of the midterm elections, but the request was completely rejected, further intensifying the snub controversy. The Saudi government explained that the regulation had changed and that all heads of state and dignitaries visiting since May 2021 had walked on the purple carpet. However, after Saudi Arabia and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries Plus (OPEC+) announced large-scale production cuts despite U.S. requests for increased output, the controversy over Biden's empty-handed diplomacy and the snub expanded.

In contrast to Biden's visit, a red carpet was laid during former President Trump's visit in 2017. Additionally, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud personally came to the airport to greet and warmly welcome him.

In May 2017, when then-U.S. President Donald Trump visited Saudi Arabia, a red carpet was laid out. Riyadh=AP·Yonhap News

Red carpet tradition dating back to the 19th century... Began with Napoleon I's coronation

Saudi officials installing carpets ahead of a VIP visit
[Image source=Saudi state-run SPA news agency]

The red carpet, installed during visits by heads of state and which has even sparked snub controversies, is known to have become an international custom since the 19th century. According to the British BBC, in 1804, Napoleon Bonaparte used a red carpet during his coronation as Napoleon I, and thereafter, all European royal families adopted the red carpet, making it customary to lay a red carpet for visiting foreign heads of state.

In Western culture, the red carpet is also said to have symbolized a sacred path since ancient Greece. In the 5th century BC Greek playwright Aeschylus's tragedy "Agamemnon," it is described that Agamemnon, king of Mycenae who returned victorious from the Trojan War, was welcomed by his queen laying out a red cloth during his triumphal procession.