Jinping signed numerous agreements during the first China-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit held on December 9th to open aspects and strengthen and boost the China-Arab strategic partnership.
Chinese President Xi Jinping recently paid a three-day visit to oil-rich Saudi Arabia, sending a clear-cut message to the US and its allies that even though Beijing is expanding its influence in this zone, it will steer clear of superseding the US’ role as a security provider. Jinping signed numerous agreements during the first China-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit held on December 9th to open aspects and strengthen and boost the China-Arab strategic partnership.
Unlike the frosty treatment of US president Joe Biden on his visit to Riyadh last July, the Chinese president had his red carpet moment when he arrived in Saudi last Wednesday. He attended the summit held at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in Riyadh with imminent GCC leaders.
China has been the biggest client and trade partner of Saudi Arabia since the GCC had their inception. They have been in win-win cooperation coated with mutual assistance for more than four decades. While combating financial crises, the coronavirus pandemic and natural disasters, the countries have walked through regional and international uncertainties together. China and the Arab states want to create a “shared future in the new era”.
A Milestone for the China-Saudi Arabia Ship
The visit has been a snub to the United States as Washington DC had constantly warned the GCC not to give into the commercial opportunities showered by China and join sanctions against Putin’s Russia. Saudi Arabian king Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman signed the comprehensive strategic partnership agreement with Jinping to enrich their relationship’s prudent substance. The countries have laid the foundation of their partnerships for:
- Promoting greater solidarity, promoting each other’s interests and upholding the philosophy of non-interference in internal matters.
- Common development helps synergise development strategies and use their strength to create forces for development.
- Common security, with China continuing to support the GCC in safeguarding their security. China encourages the participation of GCC countries in the Global Security Initiative (GSI) to endorse regional peace and security jointly.
- Cultural prosperity in both countries is part of Eastern civilisations. They aim to promote rich values and enhance interactions between citizens as a means to contribute to the development of human civilisations.
Joint Efforts on Priority Sectors
President Xi has mentioned that China will work with the GCC in some priority sectors over the next three to five years. They signed on all-dimensional energy cooperation, so China keeps importing crude oil and LNG from the GCC and maintains cooperation in oil and gas development alongside low-carbon technologies. China would provide training on the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
The countries seek to collaborate on financial regulations and set up an investment commission while supporting sovereign wealth funds of either side. The aim is to boost the digital economy and green environment at the finance and investment forefront.
China and the Arab states aim to work for breakthroughs in aerospace cooperation through aerospace tech, space utilisation, and astronaut training. They aim to expand new areas of cooperation in science, technology and innovation. China looks forward to working with the GCC countries to establish data and cloud computing centres, build 5G and 6G technologies and implement high-funding digital economies projects in areas pertaining to cross-border e-commerce and communications.
China has also signed an agreement to cooperate with educational institutions to provide Chinese language learning and testing, thereby ensuring a bilingual liberation for cultural exchanges.
An Implied “Watch Out!” to the US
Thirty-four agreements have been signed during the course of the summit. President Xi met nearly 20 Arab leaders during this visit, coining it as China’s highest-level diplomatic action with the Arab world since the foundation of the People’s Republic of China.
The Gulf nations had kept their national interests in mind when they refused to apply sanctions against Russia despite calls from the US and the EU and declined to increase oil production to cushion the impact of Russian oil restraint on the EU.
The US keeps their attention away as its relationship with Saudi Arabia, and other gulf countries remain on crusty grounds. Saudi wants to replace the US as its security guarantor; however, China might just not be ready or be in a position to take over. The gulf monarchies seem to be getting on a hustle to amend foreign policies and security ties with China.