Xi Meets Oman's Sultan as China Expands Middle East Diplomacy
Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks in Beijing on Monday, 2 November, with Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, who was on a state visit. The Guardian reported that the sultan's trip was the first visit to China by an Omani head of state since the two countries established diplomatic relations nearly 50 years ago. China has held a flurry of meetings with Gulf leaders in recent weeks as it steps up its diplomacy in the region.
According to a Chinese readout of the talks, Xi warned that the Middle East should not become an arena for great power rivalry and geopolitical conflicts.
The same week, Foreign Minister Wang Yi met two officials involved in the region's conflict. He met Saudi Arabia's national security adviser, Musaad bin Mohammed Al Aiban, and Ali Bagheri Kani, deputy secretary of Iran's National Security Council. In both meetings he urged dialogue to resolve the Middle East conflict, Reuters reported. Wang also told the Iranian officials that China supported Iran in safeguarding its sovereignty and security.
The United States and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran in February, and the fighting has drawn in major powers. China is Iran's biggest trading partner and buys about 90% of Iran's crude oil exports. Between April and June, China cut its crude imports by 30%, and its June total fell to the lowest level in a decade. Reports also credit China with pushing Tehran toward ceasefire talks in Pakistan.
China's role has also become part of the wider US relationship. Donald Trump has agreed to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen, China, on 18 and 19 November, where a meeting with Xi is anticipated. The Independent reported that such a meeting would be the third between the two leaders in 2026 and Trump's second trip to China this year. In March, Trump asked to delay a planned visit to Beijing by about a month because of the Iran war. In May, he said Xi had pledged not to send weapons to Iran.
On Sunday, 1 November, the day before the Omani visit's talks, the picture on the Iranian side was less settled. On 2 November, Trump said Iran wants to make a deal to end the war and that such an agreement "could happen." The same day, he threatened to strike Iran again, Reuters reported. Iran said contacts over ending the war are continuing after talks in Doha.
