After hosting talks at which Iran and Saudi Arabia Agreed to reestablish diplomatic relations, china said on Saturday that it had no ulterior motives and was not seeking to fill any “vacuum” in the Middle East.
The agreement announced on Friday to restore Iran-Saudi ties and reopen the embassy after seven years was seen as a major diplomatic victory for China, as Gulf Arab states view the US as reducing its presence in the Middle East. are
China “does not pursue any selfish interests” and opposes geopolitical competition in the region, the foreign ministry quoted an unidentified spokesman as saying.
China will continue to support Middle East countries to resolve differences through dialogue and consultation to jointly promote lasting peace and stability, the spokesman said. “We respect the stature of the Middle Eastern countries as masters of the region and oppose geopolitical competition in the Middle East,” said a statement posted on the Foreign Ministry’s website.
“China has no intention and will not fill the so-called vacuum or impose special blocks,” in clear reference to the US, China will continue to contribute its insights and proposals to realize peace and tranquility. Middle East and play their role as a responsible leading country in this process.
After Friday’s announcement, senior Chinese diplomat Wang Yi said the agreement showed that China is a “trustworthy mediator” that has “faithfully performed its duties as a host.”
Notably, Wang also said that “this world has more than just the Ukraine question and there are still many issues affecting peace and people’s lives.” China has been heavily criticized for failing to condemn Russia’s attack and accusing the US and NATO of fomenting the conflict.
A Chinese proposal calling for a ceasefire and peace talks between Russia and Ukraine went nowhere, largely because of China’s support for Russia.
However, in the Middle East, China is seen as a neutral party, with strong ties to both Iran and Saudi Arabia, as well as Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
China hosted Iran’s hardline president Ibrahim Raisi last month, and is a top buyer of Saudi oil.
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Chinese leader Xi Jinping visited Riyadh in December for meetings with oil-rich Gulf Arab states important to China’s energy supplies, and China’s special envoy for the Middle East — a position created specifically in 2002 — has made frequent trips. is area
China sells drones and other weapons to countries in the region, but nowhere near the scale of the United States. In concert with fellow authoritarian state Russia, China has consistently sought to chip away at the US-led Western liberal order, seizing opportunities when Washington is distracted.
Earlier, it moved aggressively to build ties in the South Pacific, signing a security agreement with the Solomon Islands that would allow Chinese ships and security forces to have a presence in the country.
The US, Australia and others moved quickly to strengthen ties in the Pacific, and China’s efforts to ink similar agreements with other island nations eventually foundered.
Xi, whose administration has warned of “confrontation and confrontation” with the US in recent days, called on a trilateral statement to facilitate Iran-Saudi talks through a “great initiative” and to sponsor talks that began on Monday. Personal consent was given. Until Friday.
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