China’s Xi says Middle East should not become battleground for great power rivalry

The Middle East and Gulf region should not become a battleground for great-power rivalry and China is willing to work with Arab nations to achieve lasting peace, Chinese President Xi Jinping told Oman's sultan on Monday

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China has traditionally played a low-key diplomatic role in the Middle East, but has stepped up efforts to try to help end tensions amid the US-Israeli war on Iran, which has snarled the Strait of Hormuz and driven up global energy and shipping costs.

Xi told Omani Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said that the world is undergoing profound changes.

"The Middle East Gulf region should not become an arena for great-power rivalry and geopolitical conflict. Peace and stability in the region require joint nurturing and protection by all parties," Xi said, according to China's Foreign Ministry.

China has consistently been committed to stopping the war, and hopes to contribute "wisdom and solutions to resolving the region's security dilemmas," he added.

China is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with Arab countries, including the Gulf Cooperation Council states, to work together toward restoring peace and achieving lasting stability and security, Xi said.

China's Foreign Ministry said later on Monday that Zhai Jun, its special envoy to the Middle East, would visit Iran, Oman and Saudi Arabia this month.

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Haitham arrived in Beijing on Sunday for a two-day visit, the first by an Omani head of state since the countries established ties in 1978.

Haitham told Xi his government had deep appreciation for China's positions on key issues concerning the region, Omani state media reported.

"We believe that development and stability are inextricably linked," he said.

"The prosperity of nations requires an environment defined by security, peace, respect for state sovereignty, and adherence to international law — an environment where disputes are resolved through peaceful means."

He also said Oman was open to entering into a preferential bilateral trade and investment agreement with China.

"We are confident that such an agreement would open new avenues for trade and investment, facilitate and enhance commercial and investment exchanges between our two nations," Haitham said.

China is Oman's largest trade partner, with tourism and business links boosted by direct flights between Beijing and Muscat since November last year.

Oman, which exports crude oil and energy products to China, has also been looking to further develop its renewable energy supply chains and digital commerce.

The Omani leader, who was welcomed on the tarmac in Beijing by People's Bank of China Governor Pan Gongsheng, also emphasised cooperation between investment and financial institutions.

(Reporting by Liz Lee in Beijing, Nayera Abdallah in Dubai and Farah Master in Hong Kong; Additional reporting by Andrew Silver; Editing by Stephen Coates, Ben Blanchard and Lincoln Feast)

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