Xi welcomes Oman’s Sultan Haitham in Beijing, says Gulf must avoid great-power rivalry

Chinese President Xi Jinping said during a meeting with Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq in Beijing that the Middle East and Gulf must not become an arena for competition among major powers. He said China was ready to work with Arab countries to achieve lasting peace.

Chinese President Xi Jinping said the Middle East and Gulf “must not become an arena for competition among major powers and geopolitical conflicts” during a meeting with Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq in Beijing on Monday. It was the first visit by an Omani head of state to China since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1978.

Xi said, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, that “peace and stability in the region require joint care and protection from all parties.” He stressed that China was committed to ending the war and hoped to contribute “wisdom and solutions” to addressing the region’s security challenges, adding that it was ready to strengthen coordination with Arab countries and the Gulf Cooperation Council states.

الرئيس الصيني شي جين بينغ أمام حرس الشرف في بكين

Strait of Hormuz and Chinese envoy to the region

Xi’s comments came amid the US-Israeli war on Iran, which has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and increased energy and shipping costs worldwide. A 20-point joint Chinese-Omani statement stressed the need to resume normal and safe navigation through the strait.

China’s Foreign Ministry later announced that its special envoy to the Middle East, Zhai Jun, would visit Iran, Oman and Saudi Arabia during the current month, signaling Beijing’s intensified diplomatic presence in the region after its role had traditionally remained out of the spotlight.

Oman proposes preferential trade agreement

Sultan Haitham, for his part, expressed Oman’s appreciation for China’s positions on regional issues, saying that “development and stability are inseparably interconnected.” Oman also indicated its openness to concluding a bilateral preferential trade and investment agreement with China, which is Oman’s largest trading partner and the main importer of its oil. He expressed confidence that the agreement would open new avenues for trade and investment.

Photos: Asharq Al-Awsat, Reuters

Xi welcomes Oman’s Sultan Haitham in Beijing, says Gulf must avoid great-power rivalry