China signals bigger Gulf role as UAE crown prince visits Beijing
China, which maintains close ties with both Iran and Gulf states, is hosting one of the UAE's top officials this week as a fragile ceasefire in the region holds.
As Abu Dhabi’s crown prince visited Beijing on Monday, Chinese Premier Li Qiang signaled China’s readiness to take on a larger role in easing tensions in the Gulf while also deepening energy and trade cooperation with the United Arab Emirates.
During talks in Beijing with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed, Li said that China is "ready to further play a constructive role and contribute to the restoration of peace and tranquility in the Gulf region," according to state news agency Xinhua.
Sheikh Khaled arrived in China on Sunday to lead a high-level delegation on a three-day visit. On Monday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with the UAE's presidential special envoy to China, Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, in Beijing.
Chinese FM Wang Yi met with Special Envoy of the UAE President to China Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak in Beijing.
— Lin Jian 林剑 (@SpoxCHN_LinJian) April 13, 2026
Wang elaborated on China’s principled position on the current #MiddleEast situation. He stressed that China supports the #UAE in safeguarding its national sovereignty,… pic.twitter.com/GNn6y482Yl
Wang told the Emirati diplomat that "China supports the UAE in safeguarding its national sovereignty, security, and legitimate rights and interests," according to a statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry. Wang added, however, that a US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz — which President Donald Trump announced on Sunday after US-Iran negotiations collapsed — "does not serve the common interests of the international community."
