The deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran last week to reestablish relations brought China and its top diplomat, Wang Yi, to the center stage of Middle Eastern politics. A savvy statesman, the 69-year-old has worked behind the scenes in the region for decades to secure Beijing's political and economic interests.
Wang, who heads the Central Foreign Affairs Commission for the Chinese Communist Party, negotiated the Saudi-Iran deal with Saudi national security adviser Musaad Al-Aiban and his Iranian counterpart, Ali Shamkhani.
