Dubai, United Arab Emirates (CNN) – Social media activists have released images and video clips of Saudi Arabia’s reception of Chinese President Xi Jinping and what they described as a “majestic” and “never seen in history” ceremony “.
Xi’s trip to Saudi Arabia carries an implicit message for the United States. Despite Washington’s repeated appeals to its Arab allies in the Gulf to reject China’s trade carrot, the region’s relationship with Beijing continues to evolve, not only in trade but also in security.
Meanwhile, for China, the visit presents an opportunity to expand its geopolitical footprint in the former US backyard, and Beijing also needs more Saudi oil, as it has recently begun to ease measures to fight the epidemic. of Corona.
As a senior Arab diplomat told CNN earlier this week, the summit represents a “milestone” in Arab-Chinese relations and a major diplomatic victory for Mohammed bin Salman.
During the visit, Emirati analyst and visiting fellow at Harvard University Abdul Khaleq Abdullah told CNN, “The first message is that this is a new Saudi Arabia, this is a new Gulf, this is a new reality.” , the new reality is that China is growing and Asia is growing, and if the United States accepts it.” Or not, we have to deal with China.”
It has been frozen by the West for years following the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018, and now Mohammed bin Salman will hold meetings with Xi and at least 14 other Arab leaders.
And the official Saudi news agency said in a report that “the Chinese president was received at King Khalid International Airport, His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Riyadh Region, His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and His Excellency the Governor of the Public Investment Fund, Professor Yasser bin Othman Al-Rumayyan (Accompanying Minister), His Excellency the Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques in the People’s Republic of China, Mr. Abdul Rahman bin Ahmed Al-Harbi, and the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the Kingdom, Chen Weiqing.
