Saudi Arabia’s MBS Praises China for Its Efforts to Normalize Relations With Iran
Jose Nino
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On March 28, 2023 during a telephone conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud expressed his gratitude for China’s efforts in brokering a normalization of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran.
In the phone conversation with the Chinese president, bin Salman “expressed Saudi Arabia’s appreciation for the Chinese initiative to support the development of good neighborly relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran,” the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) recounted.
Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to restore their diplomatic ties and reopen their embassies and diplomatic missions after seven years of intense security completion.
According to a Saudi official who has maintained anonymity, Xi expressed his desire for China to function as a “bridge” between Saudi Arabia and Iran during bilateral talks at a summit in Riyadh in December 2022, and bin Salman was receptive to the effort.
The Chinese state media outlet CCTV reported that during the March 28 phone call, Xi said China is ready to continue supporting the follow-up process of the Saudi-Iranian talks.
In addition, he had high expectations that Saudi Arabia and Iran will “uphold the spirit of good neighborliness and continue to improve their relations on the basis of the results of their talks in Beijing.”
On top of that, Xi said China is ready to expand practical cooperation and people-to-people exchanges with Saudi Arabia, and push for a more comprehensive Saudi-Chinese strategic partnership.
Xi emphasized that China is seeking to promote peace and stability in the Middle East. At this point, China may be the more sane option for Saudi Arabia to partner with. It’s at least not poisoned by wokism and universalist foreign policy assumptions like the Collective West. The fact is that the Eurasian powers are voices of reason in a sea of geopolitical insanity that covers the Collective West.
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