Premier Li Qiang To Visit KSA, UAE This Week
Senior Chinese official Li Qiang will begin a tour of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday in his first foreign trip since becoming premier.
Li's visit underscores the growing importance of China's ties with the Middle East.
Li, a close ally of Chinese leader Xi Jinping, is the highest-ranking Chinese official to visit the region since Xi's trip to Saudi Arabia in 2016. Li's visit comes at a time of heightened tensions between the US and Iran. China has close economic ties with both Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and it is the largest importer of Iranian oil. Li's visit is likely to focus on strengthening economic ties with the two Gulf States. He is also expected to discuss regional security issues, including the war in Yemen and the Iranian nuclear deal. Li's visit is a sign of China's growing interest in the Middle East. China has been expanding its economic and political influence in the region in recent years. In 2018, China launched the Belt and Road Initiative, a massive infrastructure project that aims to connect China with the rest of the world. The BRI includes a number of projects in the Middle East, including a railway line connecting China to Iran. Li's visit is a sign that China is committed to strengthening its ties with the Middle East. China's growing interest in the region is likely to have a major impact on the global balance of power. **Additional Information** * Li Qiang is a senior Chinese official who has been serving as Premier of the People's Republic of China since March 2023. * Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are two of the most important countries in the Middle East. * China has close economic ties with both Saudi Arabia and the UAE. * Li's visit is likely to focus on strengthening economic ties with the two Gulf States. * He is also expected to discuss regional security issues. * Li's visit is a sign of China's growing interest in the Middle East.
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