Chinese President Xi Jinping’s tour of Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Iran from Jan. 19 to 23 is expected to enhance political trust and pragmatic cooperation between the rising Asian power and the Middle East while establishing a new, active role for China in Middle Eastern affairs.

Xi’s visit will further cement China-Middle East relations. Since the end of the Cold War, China has established diplomatic relations with all Middle Eastern countries. Peace and mutually beneficial cooperation have become the themes of the relationship. This is rooted in China’s time-honored diplomatic tradition in the Middle East.
 

For a long time, China has adhered to the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of Middle Eastern nations while maintaining close economic cooperation. In the past decade, the trade volume of China and the Middle East has increased from $20 billion to $230 billion. Economists predict that it will exceed $500 billion by 2020.

China upholds the idea that cultures must learn from one another and respects the diversity of world civilizations. China is home to 40 million Muslims, which creates an emotional bond between the country and the Islamic states of the Middle East. It has gained the trust of Middle Eastern countries through mature policies dealing with ethnic groups and their religions.

Xi’s visit will help China to forge a new role in the Middle East, pushing forward the comprehensive development of the relationship.
 

China will have a new positive attitude toward relations with Middle Eastern countries. Relations have improved in recent years. The China-Arab States Cooperation Forum has been established by China and the League of Arab States. Also, nine Middle Eastern countries have participated in and become founding members of the Chinese-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. Given the complexity of the current situation in the Middle East, Xi’s visit is a sign of China’s diplomatic and strategic confidence in this region.
 

Furthermore, there will be a new vision of co-development. China and the Middle East have enormous potential for economic cooperation. For example, China has excess capacity and inadequate demand, while the reverse is true in the Middle East. Urbanization and governance of air pollution have increased China’s demand for clean fossil energy, while US energy independence caused by the revolution of shale oil and gas has compelled Middle Eastern countries to seek new buyers. The Iran nuclear deal will open up international trade routes through Iran, bringing about a broader vision of interconnection. Xi’s visit will make the “Belt and Road” initiative the common “strategic opportunity” of China and its Middle Eastern partners.
 

Politics and economy will continue to develop at the same pace. China is the second-largest economy in the world. However, its economic strength has not been converted into political influence. For example, China has become the biggest trade partner of many Middle East countries, but it has not provided enough Chinese solutions to the challenges in this region. This cannot meet the expectations countries in the Middle East have for China and is unfavorable to safeguarding China’s overseas economic interests as well.  Xi’s visit will offer an opportunity to reveal Oriental wisdom and Chinese thinking.

Bai Lianlei is from the Department for European-Central Asian Studies at the China Institute of International Studies.