China to host ministers from oil-rich Gulf states as Kazakhstan unrest heightens energy security fears
- The visit by a delegation from the Gulf Cooperation Council comes amid violent unrest in one of Beijing’s main energy suppliers
- Analysts said the visitors will want to explore ways to overcome their reliance on the US market and balance Beijing’s close ties to their deadly rival Iran
Foreign ministers from the Gulf states will start a five-day visit to Beijing on Monday in with energy expected to top the agenda.
Foreign ministers from four of the GGC’s six members – Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain – as well as GCC secretary general Nayef Falah al-Hajraf will visit China from January 10 to 14 at China’s invitation, foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin announced on Saturday.
Zhou Chenming, a researcher from the Yuan Wang military science and technology institute in Beijing, said China hoped a closer relationship with the GCC states could secure supply chains after the violent unrest in Kazakhstan saw mass protests and Russian troops being sent in to help restore order.
“Kazakhstan is the key energy supplier for Beijing’s West-East Gas Pipeline programme in Central Asia. The current political unrest in the country may affect China’s future energy supply chain, which President Xi Jinping will not allow to happen.” Zhou said.