This summit is an attempt to present the Chinese model of globalization as an alternative to Western globalization based on the clash of civilizations.
On the political, security and military fronts, Beijing is seeking to:
Establishing the principle of respect for the sovereignty of states and non-interference in their internal affairs, which is the policy that Beijing applies in its dealings with others.
Confirming Arab support for it in the Taiwan issue, especially in voting in international forum
Selling quantities of weapons to all countries in the region that need them, without granting preferential advantages or a monopoly to one of those countries.
Focusing on the technical side, especially with regard to the fifth generation, which Beijing seeks to spread in all countries of the world, despite American attempts to prevent it.
As for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, it seeks cooperation with China for several reasons, including:
What Saudi Arabia has been suffering from the American turnaround in dealing with it since President Biden came to power, who pledged not to deal with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
As a result of a Saudi and Gulf desire to diversify partnerships, realizing that the future of the world will be in Asia and that China is the heart of the Asian continent.
And the desire of the Kingdom to present itself as the key to the Arab region, especially in light of the decline in the role of Egypt, and the weakening of Syria and Iraq in the north.
As a result of the economic boom and the increasing strategic position of the Kingdom, especially after the war in Ukraine.
And as a continuation of the cooperation projects between it and China, and as a result of the Kingdom’s need for Chinese technology to complete the Kingdom’s 2030 plan.
The Saudi Arabia Kingdom’s desire to develop comprehensive strategic partnerships and cooperation in the fields of aviation, finance and nuclear energy.
On the political level, Beijing will work to find a solution to some of the region’s issues if asked to do so, such as:
The Yemen war and mediation between Iran and Saudi Arabia, to ensure stability in the Persian Gulf region, in which Chinese interests are greatly increasing. Beijing hosted talks between the two countries in 2015-2016.
Urged the Palestinians and Israelis to “two-state solution”, and Beijing had previously put forward several initiatives in this regard. In December 2017, China hosted the “Palestinian-Israel Peace Symposium”.
Trying to end the conflict in Syria, on the basis of implementing Resolution No. 2254 and embarking on a political solution as a way to start the process of rebuilding Syria. In May 2018, Beijing hosted the international symposium on Syrian issues.
Beijing, for its part, sees the Arab region as geostrategically important to it, due to the location of trade routes there. And also because it contains energy sources, especially since Beijing is the largest consumer of energy in the world. In 2013, China overtook the United States as the largest importer of crude oil from the Middle East. Since 2017, China has become the largest importer of crude oil worldwide, and the Middle East is likely to account for 70% of China’s energy needs by 2030.
Beijing has sought to diversify energy sources. In 2021, it signed a strategic agreement with Iran worth $400 billion for a period of 25 years. It also signed a 27-year agreement to buy Qatari gas a few days ago, which is the longest agreement in the history of the liquefied gas industry in the world.
In addition to all this, the Arab region is a large consumer market that encourages China to seek control over it, especially in light of the presence of large development projects such as the Kingdom 2030 project, the new capital in Egypt, and sea ports in a number of Arab countries, in addition to reconstruction projects in other countries which witnessed wars and destruction like Syria.
