Chinese President to Visit Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt

The Chinese Foreign Ministry announced that the President of China will travel to Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt next week. On Friday, January 25, the French news agency reported statements from Lu Kang, the spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, stating that Xi Jinping, the President of China, will begin a five-day trip to the Middle East starting Tuesday next week. This visit comes amid heightened tensions between Tehran and Riyadh over the execution of Nimr al-Nimr, a Shiite cleric, and the subsequent attack on the Saudi embassy in Iran. Following this incident, Saudi Arabia severed its relations with Iran, escalating tensions between the two countries that have risen in recent years over issues in Syria, Yemen, and Bahrain. In this context, China has sent a diplomatic delegation to Tehran and Riyadh, calling for a reduction in tensions between the two countries and for maintaining stability in the region. At the head of this diplomatic delegation was Zhang Ming, the Deputy Foreign Minister of China, who expressed hope that 'the parties will maintain calm and restraint, increase dialogue and consultations, and work together to improve the situation.' The French news agency writes that China is dependent on Middle Eastern oil reserves, but for a long time has avoided involvement in the disputes occurring in this region until recently, when it decided to play a more serious role, especially regarding the Syrian crisis. China is also one of the countries in the 1+5 group that has been involved in Iran's nuclear file for years until six months ago when, after lengthy negotiations with Tehran, the parties reached an agreement regarding Iran's nuclear program.