Middle East must not be arena for great-power rivalry, Xi says
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- Chinese President Xi Jinping cautioned that the Middle East and Gulf region must not become an arena for great-power competition
- Beijing and Muscat called for the immediate restoration of safe maritime navigation through the Strait of Hormuz
Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Monday that the Middle East and Gulf region should not become an arena for great-power rivalry, reiterating Beijing’s readiness to work alongside Arab states to advance regional stability.
Speaking during formal talks with Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Xi stated that stability requires collective responsibility among regional and international stakeholders.
"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 statements released by China’s Foreign Ministry.
He added that Beijing remains committed to diplomatic conflict resolution and seeks to contribute constructive solutions to address regional security challenges.
Following their meeting, China and Oman issued a 20-point joint statement calling for the restoration of normal, unimpeded navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
Both governments urged the United States and Iran to prioritize peaceful diplomatic tracks, adhere to earlier de-escalation understandings reached in June, and return to formal talks.
Reinforcing this diplomatic push, China's Foreign Ministry confirmed that its Special Envoy on the Middle East Issue, Zhai Jun, will undertake an official mission to Iran, Oman, and Saudi Arabia later this month.
Sultan Haitham, who arrived in the Chinese capital on Sunday, commended Beijing’s diplomatic posture and approach to regional affairs.
"We believe that development and stability are inextricably linked," the Sultan stated, noting that sustainable economic progress depends on respect for state sovereignty, international law, and the peaceful settlement of disputes.
During the visit, Sultan Haitham expressed Oman's readiness to pursue a preferential bilateral trade and investment framework with Beijing to expand market access and enhance cross-border investments.
The joint communique stated plans to deepen traditional oil and natural gas collaboration while scaling up joint initiatives in renewable energy, including solar photovoltaics, wind power, energy storage, and power transmission infrastructure, alongside closer institutional ties between both nations' financial and investment bodies.
