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Great Hall of the People, China

China

October 4, 2024

Beijing 12:03 am

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US President Joe Biden greets Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates at the White House, on Monday, September 23, 2024 in Washington, District of Columbia. World leaders including President Biden and President Nahyan will travel to New York for the United Nations General Assembly. (Photo by Aaron Schwartz / Middle East Images / Middle East Images via AFP) (Photo by AARON SCHWARTZ/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Why UAE's upgrade to US 'major defense partner' will not deter China

While the designation comes with many benefits for the UAE, placing it on par with India, it lacks the formal security guarantees provided to other nations, including South Korea and Japan.

Joyce Karam

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional geopolitics, China in the Middle East

Uber, China's WeRide to launch self-driving robotaxis in UAE

WeRide already operates the largest robotaxi fleet in the UAE, where residents can access its robotaxi services through the TXAI app.

United Arab Emirates

US President Joe Biden and United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan walk to the Oval Office for a meeting at the White House on Sept. 23, 2024 in Washington, DC.

US declares UAE 'major defense partner,' seeking to outbid China

The move put the US-UAE military relationship on the same footing as that between the United States and India.

United Arab Emirates

Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Iran's President Hassan Rouhani walk as they attend a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State in Bishkek on June 14, 2019. (Photo by Vyacheslav OSELEDKO / AFP) (Photo credit should read VYACHESLAV OSELEDKO/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Is China-Russia-Iran axis illusion as differences surface in Middle East?

Despite the mirage of a united front between China, Iran and Russia, the "growing cooperation" represents mere snippets of a much more complex nexus of bilateral and multilateral interactions that tend to be more dialectical than reported.

Dale Aluf

In Amsterdam, reporting on China in the Middle East

Latest News

China's premier in UAE after Saudi Arabia as Beijing deepens Gulf ties

United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (R) hosted China’s Prime Minister Li Qiang in Abu Dhabi on Sept. 12, 2024.

United Arab Emirates

Saudi Aramco signs downstream agreements with Chinese refiners

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Chinese PM meets Saudi crown prince during Riyadh visit

Riyadh is Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang's first stop in a Gulf tour

Agence France-Presse

Analysis

What defines China’s interests in Sudan as Xi met Burhan in Beijing?

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Chairman of Sudan's Sovereignty Council Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, who is in Beijing for the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 6, 2024.

Adam Lucente

By Adam Lucente

In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change

Harry Clynch

In London, reporting on Middle East economics

Jack Dutton

Chief Business Correspondent

In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech

Benjamin Houghton

In Durham, reporting on China in the Middle East

Yun Sun

In Washington, DC, reporting on China-Middle East ties

Yuka Ando

Dale Aluf

In Amsterdam, reporting on China in the Middle East

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) and Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) inspect Chinese honour guards during a welcome ceremony outside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on July 2, 2019. (Photo by WANG ZHAO / AFP) (Photo by WANG ZHAO/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Turkey's BRICS ambitions hinge on India, China accepting Ankara's bid

Geopolitical equations might pave the way for BRICS members to welcome Turkey in the bloc but such outcome is both complicated and not imminent.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

China's Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang (C) delivers his speech.

At Africa summit, China elevates ties with Libya, invests $14M in Egypt

The Sino-Libyan pact was announced Wednesday by Chinese President Xi Jinping and President of the Libyan Presidency Council Mohamed al-Menfi at the FOCAC summit in Beijing.

In Abu Dhabi, UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed meets with HE Chen Min’er, member of the Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party and Communist Party secretary of Tianjin, to discusses prospects of increasing bilateral cooperation under the framework of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, Sept. 4, 2024. Credit: UAE Foreign Ministry

Analysis

How UAE-China ties expand around Tianjin chief visit, ADNOC deal

Diplomatic and business traffic is gaining steam between Dubai and Beijing after a first-of-its-kind think-tank forum, a high-level welcome for a Tianjin official to the UAE, and a major deal with ADNOC this week.

Joyce Karam

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional geopolitics, China in the Middle East

Saudi Hawks

China, Russia, UAE make strong showing at Egypt International Airshow

China sent military aircraft to fly over the pyramids ahead of the event, which followed a joint naval exercise between Egypt and the People’s Republic.

China's foreign minister, Wang Yi (R), shakes hands with Saudi Arabia's foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud, before a family photo for the attendees of a meeting of foreign ministers from Arab and Muslim-majority nations at the Diaoyutai State Guest House in Beijing on November 20, 2023.

How significant is PIF's $50B China investment for Saudi ties?

Though Riyadh continues its efforts toward economic integration with Beijing, it still seeks to balance relations with both Beijing and Washington.

Ambassador Fu Cong, permanent representative of China to the UN.

Analysis

Israel’s prolonged Gaza war offers China strategic opportunity in Mideast

Israel’s continuous military operations in Gaza have likely offered China unexpected help in its rivalry against the US.

Andrea Ghiselli

By Andrea Ghiselli

In Shanghai, reporting on China in the Middle East

This undated photo taken in April 2018 shows China's sole operational aircraft carrier, the Liaoning (front), sailing with other ships during a drill at sea.

How significant is Egypt and China’s naval exercise in Mediterranean?

The exercise follows Egyptian President Sisi’s May trip to Beijing, as well as Chinese interest in Egypt’s ports and tech sector.

bbas Araghchi, political deputy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran, speaks to the media after the meeting of the Joint Commission of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) attended by the E3+2 (China, France, Germany, Russia, United Kingdom) and Iran on July 28, 2019 at the Palais Coburg in Vienna, Austria. (Photo by ALEX HALADA / AFP) (Photo by ALEX HALADA/AFP via Getty Images)

Iran's foreign minister nominee vows to prioritize Russia, China ties

Iran's prospective foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, offered a cautious foreign policy pitch ahead of lawmakers' vote on his nomination, saying Tehran's stance toward the JCPOA would remain the same.

TOPSHOT - (L-R) Mahmoud al-Aloul, Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of Palestinian organisation and political party Fatah, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and Mussa Abu Marzuk, senior member of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, attend an event at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on July 23, 2024. China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi on July 23 hailed an agreement by 14 Palestinian factions to set up an "interim national reconciliation government" to govern Gaza after the war. (Photo by Pe

Analysis

Hamas reshuffle constrains China as Yahya Sinwar consolidates power

Ismail Haniyeh was no ally of Beijing, but he and Hamas' political wing emerged in recent years as a bridge to expand China's diplomatic influence in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Joyce Karam

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional geopolitics, China in the Middle East

People visit the booth of Chinese automobile manufacturer BYD during the Indonesia International Motor Show in Surabaya on May 29, 2024.

Analysis

What's behind China carmakers' foray into Turkey following BYD deal?

As a growing number of Chinese carmakers have shown interest in investing in Turkey, Turkish companies in the sector are positioning themselves amid the Chinese foray.

Mustafa Sonmez

By Mustafa Sonmez

In Istanbul, reporting on economics

Beijing

China’s Baosteel ups investment in Saudi steel plate venture to $1B

A subsidiary of the world’s largest steelmaker, China Baeowu Steel Group, will have a 50% stake in a major new Saudi-based venture.

A fighter loyal to Sudan's army chief, Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, holds a weapon during a graduation ceremony in Gedaref state, May 27, 2024.

UAE, China, Russia, Turkey violating Sudan arms embargo: Amnesty

Amnesty International reports foreign countries sending weapons and ammunition to the warring sides in Sudan, where civil war has raged for more than a year.