China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, carried multiple files and messages during his visits to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, renewing debate over whether Beijing is pursuing new objectives in the Gulf or simply extending its long-standing focus on economic cooperation.
In Saudi Arabia, Wang delivered a message from Chinese President Xi Jinping to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman focused on bilateral relations, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
China and Saudi Arabia agreed to “strengthen communication and coordination on regional and international issues,” with Beijing praising Riyadh’s diplomatic role in the Middle East.
In Abu Dhabi, Wang pledged to deepen cooperation with Gulf states in investment, oil and gas, and infrastructure following talks with UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed.
The visit has revived questions over whether China is seeking to expand its political footprint in the Gulf or whether the trip reflects a continuation of frequent high-level Chinese visits aimed at boosting economic ties and identifying new investment opportunities.
Limits of Political Engagement
The visit produced no statements signaling a shift in China’s political approach or strategic goals in the Gulf. Investment and economic cooperation remained the central themes of Wang’s remarks in both Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Abdulaziz Al-Maamari, a political analyst, told Alhurra that Beijing practices “soft diplomacy centered on trade and supply chains, while taking care not to interfere in internal affairs.”
“This approach positions China as a partner when economic returns are assured,” he said, “but it does not place it in the role of a traditional political actor that provides leadership or security guarantees.”
On whether Wang sought to narrow Saudi-Emirati differences over Yemen, Al-Maamari said such divergence in views is natural and does not require external mediation. He added that China appears unwilling to engage in high-cost political issues that do not directly serve its economic interests, preferring instead to focus on tracks aligned with its investment and development agenda.
China has long sought to balance its relations between Iran and Gulf states. Gulf Cooperation Council countries supply a significant share of China’s oil imports, while Beijing remains Iran’s largest economic partner under a long-term strategic cooperation agreement.
In 2023, China brokered an agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran to restore diplomatic relations. In recent days, the Saudi-Chinese-Iranian joint trilateral committee met in Tehran to review implementation of the agreement, reaffirming commitment to its provisions.
Ali Al-Khashiban, a researcher at the Research and Knowledge Communication Center, said China’s support for Iran should not be viewed as a comprehensive strategic alliance. He stressed that Beijing is still far from acting as a global pole that rivals the United States in terms of military capability or confrontational readiness.
“China’s tools in the region remain largely confined to economic influence and diplomatic maneuvering,” he said.
Gulf States Between Two Partners
Describing the broader shift underway in the Gulf, Zineb Riboua, a researcher at the Hudson Institute in Washington, tells Joe Kawly that the region has moved beyond the model in which the United States provided security while China expanded economically to a much more complex environment.
Gulf states, she said, are redefining their interests through selective partnerships with both powers, a shift that reflects a growing strategic autonomy in an increasingly multipolar international world order.
Al-Khashiban argues that there are no tangible political or security indications to suggest that China is seeking to translate its economic presence into a strategic political influence. For the foreseeable future, he says, China will remain an economic partner and a major consumer of Gulf oil — a reality understood by both Gulf states and the United States.
Sakina Abdallah
A Saudi writer, researcher, and TV presenter
