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The Takeaway: Xi's Saudi Arabia trip sends a message to US

Plus, the Biden administration gears up for next week’s summit of African leaders and warns that Iran is still fueling Yemen’s war.

China's President Xi Jinping (R) greeted by the Governor of Riyadh province Prince Faisal bin Bandar al-Saud (L) at King Khalid International Airport
China's President Xi Jinping (R) greeted by the Governor of Riyadh province Prince Faisal bin Bandar al-Saud (L) at King Khalid International Airport

Five months after his frosty fist-bump with President Joe Biden, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is rolling out the red carpet for Chinese President Xi Jinping, who arrived in Riyadh on Wednesday evening for a three-day trip underscoring Beijing’s growing role in the Persian Gulf. 

Xi, who last visited Saudi Arabia in 2016, will take part in summits with the leaders of the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council and other Arab states, where the Chinese delegation is expected to sign a flurry of deals.

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