On November 20, 2024, Professor Liu Zhongmin at Middle East Studies Institute of Shanghai International Studies University gave an interview to Global Times on China's Middle East Diplomacy, which reads as follows:
China, Saudi Arabia, Iran meet to reaffirm Beijing Agreement
Saudi Arabia and Iran reaffirmed their commitment to all provisions of the Beijing Agreement, and their continued efforts to consolidate good-neighborly and friendly relations between the two countries. They welcomed the continued positive role of China and held that China's support and follow-up to the implementation of the Beijing Agreement is of great importance, according to a press release issued by the Chinese Foreign Ministry after the second meeting of the China-Saudi Arabia-Iran Trilateral Joint Committee held on Tuesday in Riyadh.
The meeting marks China's efforts to maintain dialogue between the two nations to ensure the ties steer clear of conflicts in the Middle East, Chinese experts said, noting that it also highlights China's role of being a reliable peacemaker amid wariness in the region over uncertainties coupled with the change in the US government.
The meeting was chaired by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Waleed bin Abdulkarim Al-Khuraiji, with the participation of the Chinese delegation headed by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Deng Li and the Iranian delegation headed by Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran for Political Affairs Majid Takht Ravanchi, according to a handout published by China's Foreign Ministry on Wednesday.
Saudi Arabia and Iran reaffirmed their commitment to all provisions of the Beijing Agreement, and their continued efforts to consolidate good-neighborly and friendly relations between the two countries by adhering to the United Nations Charter, the Charter of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and international law, including respecting national sovereignty, independence and security.
China stressed its readiness to continue to support and encourage the steps taken by Saudi Arabia and Iran toward developing their relations in various fields.
The three countries welcomed the continuous progress in Saudi Arabia-Iran relations, which provides opportunities for direct exchanges between the two countries at all levels and across all sectors.
Since the thawing of relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran that began in March last year, significant changes, such as the Palestine-Israel conflict, have occurred in the situation, Wang Jin, an associate professor at the Institute of Middle Eastern Studies at Northwest University in Xi'an, told the Global Times.
The second meeting of the China-Saudi Arabia-Iran Trilateral Joint Committee not only seeks to solidify the progress made in improving relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, but also aims to ensure that the ties between the two nations can steer clear of conflicts in the Middle East, Wang said.
Conflict between Iran and Israel has escalated since early October when Iran fired approximately 180 missiles at Israeli targets. Tehran said the strikes were retaliation for the assassinations of several leaders of regional resistance groups, among other reasons.
The Israel Defense Forces announced on October 26 that it conducted precise and targeted airstrikes on targets in Iran in response to recent attacks from the country.
Since September 23, the Israeli army has intensified its air attacks on Lebanon in an escalation of the conflict with Hezbollah. Israel further initiated a ground operation across its northern border into Lebanon in early October, according to the Xinhua News Agency.
China, Saudi Arabia and Iran on Tuesday called for an immediate end to the Israeli military operationsin both Palestine and Lebanon, condemn the Israeli attack and its violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iran, and called for ensuring the unimpeded flow of humanitarian and relief aid to Palestine and Lebanon.
The three countries held that the ongoing cycle of violence and escalation poses a serious threat to the security of the region and the world, including maritime security.
The three countries reaffirmed their support for a comprehensive political solution to the Yemeni issue in accordance with internationally recognized principles under the auspices of the United Nations.
China is, to some extent, an important promoter of peace in the Middle East, while the US has played the role of a conflict instigator in the region, Liu Zhongmin, a professor from the Middle East Studies Institute at Shanghai International Studies University, told the Global Times.
Liu said that in the face of uncontrollable regional conflicts, the US and some Western countries have failed to fulfill their responsibilities as major world powers to promote peace. Therefore, China's cooperation with regional countries could help promote the easing of conflicts.
Source: Global Times
(The views expressed in this article are the personal views of the author or the interviewee, and do not represent the position of this research institution)
