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The question marks over China’s next big Mideast peacemaking efforts
- Beijing will need to expand its regional expertise and show how it plans to enforce agreements, analysts say
- But its lack of historical baggage in the Middle East is an advantage, observer says
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Beijing will need to make more political and security commitments if it is serious about deeper engagement with the Middle East and solving some of the region’s long-standing problems, according to observers.
In an online discussion organised by the think tank the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace on Thursday, analysts said that while countries in the region had responded positively to China’s recent engagement, there was still a question mark about how big a role Beijing could play.
In March, China helped broker a landmark peace deal between regional rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran, with Tehran and Riyadh restoring diplomatic relations for the first time in seven years. President Xi Jinping was reportedly directly involved in realising the agreement.
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A month later, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang said Beijing was ready to help with peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
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Saudi Arabia signs Huawei deal during Chinese leader Xi’s visit despite US security concerns
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The engagement came after Xi attended two inaugural summits with Arab states and the Gulf Cooperation Council in Saudi Arabia late last year.
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