On Thursday, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with the leaders of Egypt, Palestine, and Saudi Arabia during his trip to Riyadh. In an op-ed for a Saudi media outlet, the leader said he was on a “pioneering trip” to “open a new era of China’s relations with the Arab world, the Arab countries of the Gulf, and Saudi Arabia.”
Below is a summary of his discussions.
Palestine
During his meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Riyadh, Xi said that China “deeply cherishes” its friendship with Palestine and assured that “no matter how the international and regional situation changes,” his administration will “always firmly support the just cause of the Palestinian people to restore the legitimate rights and interests of their nation.”
Xi added that the international community must prioritise the Palestinian issue keeping the two-state solution and the principle of “land for peace” in mind. He stated that resumption of peace talks should happen on the basis of relevant United Nations resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.
In Riyadh, President Mahmoud Abbas met with Chinese President Xi Jinping: "The State of Palestine supports the One-China policy and backs China against pressure it's facing in international forums." pic.twitter.com/0APTPN04Zc
— Khaled Abu Toameh (@KhaledAbuToameh) December 8, 2022
Abbas responded that China is a “sincere and trustworthy friend” and that Beijing’s “positions on the international stage” are “fair and just.” He also reaffirmed Palestine’s “steadfast commitment” to the one-China principle and its “firm support” for China’s “just” positions on Taiwan, Hong Kong and Xinjiang.
The pair also signed a tourism cooperation agreement and pledged to expedite negotiations on a free trade negotiation. In this regard, the two sides held the second session of the Chinese-Palestinian Joint Committee for Economic, Trade, and Technical Cooperation. Abbas also noted that Palestine is a firm supporter of China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
The two countries have maintained bilateral ties since 1963.
Egypt
In his meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Xi said that China is “ready to deepen” Belt and Road cooperation, and ensure the timely completion of the train project in the 10th of Ramadan City and the CBD project in the new administrative capital of Egypt. Xi also emphasised the importance of completing the China-Egypt Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone.
He added that China would also “expand cooperation in investment and financing, joint vaccine production and aerospace.”
President Xi Jinping Meets with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi #XiJinping #Elsisi #China #Egypt pic.twitter.com/ieuqKglBDg
— Liao Liqiang (@AmbLiaoLiqiang) December 8, 2022
Furthermore, Xi congratulated Egypt for hosting the recent COP27 climate conference and outlined his vision to expand cooperation in energy transition, the green economy, and low-carbon technologies.
Xi also advocated for greater coordination in international forums to push for “true multilateralism” and “safeguard the common interests of developing countries.”
El-Sisi said that Egypt welcomed China’s “active participation in important infrastructure projects” in his country and invited Chinese companies to invest in Egypt. He also expressed his desire “to strengthen cooperation with China in vaccine research and development.”
President Xi Jinping met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. The visions and interests that China and Egypt share mean that the two sides need to work together toward the building of a #China-#Egypt community with a shared future in the new era... pic.twitter.com/SbO10GRNcm
— Hua Chunying 华春莹 (@SpokespersonCHN) December 9, 2022
Like Abbas, the Egyptian leader also underscored his respect for the one-China principle and China’s position on Hong Kong, Xinjiang, and Taiwan. He said Egypt “firmly opposes interference by any force in China’s internal affairs.”
According to a press release by the Egyptian presidency, Xi praised Egypt’s “leading role in safeguarding peace, security and stability in the region, particularly fighting terrorism and extremism.”
During the meeting, they reviewed aspects of bilateral cooperation and regional and international developments of common interest.
— Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 (@KSAmofaEN) December 8, 2022
The meeting was attended by the Assistant Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Ambassador Hossam Zaki. pic.twitter.com/YoksweIpkp
Saudi Arabia
In his talks with Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), Xi noted that the “international and regional situation” is “undergoing profound and complex changes.” In this regard, he hailed Saudi Arabia as a “key and independent force in the multipolar world.” He added that Beijing will expand coordination with Riyadh in international forums such as the UN and G20.
He called on both sides to “earnestly synergise” China’s Belt and Road Initiative and Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques @KingSalman receives H.E. the President of the People's Republic of #China, in the presence of HRH the Crown Prince. 🇸🇦🇨🇳 pic.twitter.com/4co6rqVk7I
— Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 (@KSAmofaEN) December 8, 2022
Xi also assured that China will increase coordination on their energy policy, increase the volume of their crude oil trade, and work towards the early completion of their joint venture– the Sino-Saudi Gulei Ethylene Complex Project.
He also agreed to increase trade, investment, and financial cooperation, and expand cooperation in the e-commerce, digital economy, clean energy, high technology and space research and development. The leaders also agreed to cooperate in law-enforcement, counter-terrorism and deradicalisation.
MBS, meanwhile, assured Xi of Riyadh’s support for the one-China principle as well as China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Referring to alleged radical Islamists in Xinjiang, he said Riyadh also supports China’s “measures and efforts for deradicalisation” and said allegations of human rights abuses by Western powers constitute “interference in China’s internal affairs.”
— Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 (@KSAmofaEN) December 8, 2022
He also invited Chinese companies to invest in Saudi Arabia’s automobile, science and technology, chemical, and mining industries.
King Salman remarked that both sides had “reached important common understandings on many issues” and reaffirmed that his government “highly values relations with China.” He also expressed his willingness to advance their comprehensive strategic partnership.
HRH the Crown Prince and H.E. #China’s President are witnessing the exchange ceremony of a number of bilateral agreements and MoUs between both countries, and H.E. receives an honorary doctorate in management and leadership from King Saud University.
— Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 (@KSAmofaEN) December 8, 2022
pic.twitter.com/z9Pa9vdAQl
The two sides also signed several memorandums of understanding (MoUs), including in the field of hydrogen energy, Mandarin education, direct investment, and housing, among others.
Riyadh also signed an agreement with Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei on cloud computing and building high-tech complexes in Saudi cities.