bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

Liu Zhen

President Xi Jinping (習近平) is due to arrive in Iran today after ­outlining China’s policy in the Arab world as Beijing pursues a bigger diplomatic presence in the region.
Xi delivered a speech at the headquarters of the Arab League in Cairo, which groups 22 Arabic nations, on Thursday after a stop in Saudi Arabia.
He said China would set up a US$20 billion common investment fund with the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, and pledged 230 million yuan (HK$273.4 million) in humanitarian aid for Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, and Yemen. Beijing would also give US$300 million to boost China-Arab law enforcement cooperation, Xinhua reported.
Xi said development was the solution to easing unrest in the Middle East, and China did not seek to foster proxies or build a sphere of influence in the region.
READ MORE: China, Saudi Arabia upgrade diplomatic ties as Riyadh seeks new allies
During his stay in Cairo, Xi said China and the Arab world would together map their own path to development, defend peace in the region, promote mutually beneficial cooperation and advocate multiculturalism.
Mainland diplomatic observers said China was positioning itself as a key player in the Middle East using its economic muscle.
China’s Foreign Ministry last week issued the nation’s first policy paper on developing ties with the Arab region, stressing that Beijing would place energy cooperation at the core, push forward infrastructure construction and facilitate trade and investment. It would also pursue breakthroughs in technologies in nuclear energy, space-based communications and new energy.

Li Guofu, a Middle East affairs expert said China was attempting to show it would be a “practical” player in the region through ­infrastructure projects. Wang Wen, a researcher from the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at Renmin University, said “assisting local economic growth through infrastructure development and trade is what China is good at” and also something that locals “would not ­reject”.
After massive economic deals signed in Saudi Arabia, Xi told Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi that China was willing to participate in Egypt’s key projects like the development of the Suez Canal Corridor and the construction of a new administrative ­capital.
These two projects were central to Sisi’s plans to stimulate Egypt’s economy, in which Chinese investment and participation would be crucial, Li said.
The Suez Canal project, which adds a 35km second shipping lane to the existing 164km passageway, was completed last year to ease ship traffic between the Mediterranean and the Red Sea.
READ MORE: Xi Jinping to walk fine line on Middle East visit
Li said the largest challenge facing Sisi’s administration was improving his people’s livelihood.
“It is where China’s ‘One Belt, One Road’ development plan comes in,” Li said.
In Saudi Arabia, Xi vowed to speed up free-trade talks with the region, and signalled support for Yemen’s Saudi-backed government, which is fighting the Iran-allied Houthi militia.
Beijing will be closely watched on how it strikes a balance between Riyadh and Tehran, which recently severed diplomatic ties after Saudi Arabia executed a Shiite cleric. Wang said China was expected to sign lucrative deals with Iran as well, and would refrain from getting deeply involved in the disputes between Riyadh and Tehran.
 


How will Donald Trump handle Taiwan? Beijing sees hawkish signs as analysts are divided

Trump’s re-election could mark end of era dominated by US-led globalisation

Development finance veteran urges multilateral response to Trump challenges

4 steps China can take to weather Trump’s tariffs

Xi Jinping

Chinese President Xi Jinping pushes trade over politics in Middle East

epa05116188 Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a speech at Arab League headquarter in Cairo, Egypt, 21 January 2016.Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Egypt on 20 January, part of a three-nation tour that has already taken him to Saudi Arabia. EPA/KHALED ELFIQI

Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a speech at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo. Photo: EPA

President Xi Jinping shakes hands with Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in Cairo yesterday. Photo: EPA 

China's president backs Egypt’s moves to maintain stability ahead of uprising anniversary

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (R) greets Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) in Abdeen palace during the Chinese president's first day of his visit, in Cairo, Egypt, January 20, 2016, in this handout courtesy of the Egyptian Presidency. REUTERS/The Egyptian Presidency/Handout via Reuters ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. REUTERS IS UNABLE TO INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY, CONTENT, LOCATION OR DATE OF THIS IMAGE. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVE. THIS PICTURE IS DISTRIBUTED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS.

A handout picture released by the Egyptian Presidency shows Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (C-R) welcoming Chinese President Xi Jinping (C-L) upon his arrival at the airport in the capital Cairo on January 20, 2016. Chinese President is expected to hold a joint news conference with his Egyptian counterpart and address the Cairo-based Arab League as part of a regional tour to bolster economic and political ties. / AFP / EGYPTIAN PRESIDENCY / STRINGER / === RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / HO /EGYPTIAN PRESIDENCY " - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS ==

President Xi meets his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo. Photo: Reuters

Quick guide to China’s diplomatic levels

A handout picture provided by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) on January 19, 2016 Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) being greeted by members of the Saudi Shura Council following his arrival in Riyadh. Xi arrived in Saudi Arabia, the first stop on a trip to raise the economic giant's political profile in a troubled Middle East. / AFP / SPA / STRINGER / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / SPA" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) is greeted by members of the Saudi Shura Council following his arrival in Riyadh on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

News

China

Politics

Diplomacy