China steps up its influence in the Middle East

Beijing shows an unprecedented influence in the Middle East: on January 8-12, not only the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman, but also the foreign ministers of Iran and Turkey will be in China at the same time - the EU or the US can hardly boast of such attendance.

In fact, the Middle East coordinates a joint strategy of a deeper integration with Beijing against the backdrop of increasing economic interdependence of countries from each other and the gradual weakening of the role played by the United States as an importer of Middle Eastern hydrocarbons. The parties not only record global changes in hydrocarbon trade, which in theory can develop into in a partial transition to oil futures trading at the sites in Shanghai (not for nothing meetings are held in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, not too far from Shanghai), but also demonstrate an open caveat on issues of the American policy of recognizing the "genocide in Xinjiang" - Arab Muslim countries officially support Beijing in its Uyghur policy.

Beijing is becoming the economic coordinator of the Middle East, which is the main candidate for inclusion into the yuan currency area. The rapid replacement of Washington shows American policy the need for more radical resistance to the emerging course of events.

Formally, the parties are getting ready for the first China-Arab World summit scheduled for this year in Saudi Arabia. It's worth mentioning that the issues of the One Belt, One Road strategy at the Chinese exhibition held in Dubai were covered by Vice Premier Hu Chunhua, overseeing the China-US Dialogue.

Source: smart-lab.ru
Image source: photogenica.ru