(Chinese FM Wang Yi with Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit)
Xi Hosts Arab Leaders as China’s ‘Soft Power’ Expands in Mideast - As I predicted yesterday, the ‘soft power’ narrative begins. China has a long way to go before we can start talking about real soft power in the Middle East. I’ll have to write about this once the CASCF bustle settles down.
President Sheikh Mohamed arrives in China for state visit - From The National, and interesting mostly in reporting the delegation with MbZ, which gives a sense of what’s being covered (nearly everything) and how seriously the UAE is taking the trip (very).
Sheikh Mohamed leads a high-level delegation in China, which includes Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi; Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad, adviser for special affairs at the Presidential Court; Suhail Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure; Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Mohamed Al Suwaidi, Minister of Investment, and Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade.
In the wake of the G42-Microsoft deal and implications for Chinese AI in the UAE, this is an important visit in setting a positive agenda for the China-UAE bilateral.
Vice Foreign Minister Deng Li Meets with Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations Riyad Mansour - From China’s side: “The immediate priority is to effectively implement relevant Security Council resolutions, achieve an immediate, unconditional and lasting ceasefire, and ensure humanitarian assistance. China supports Palestine's accession to full membership in the United Nations, and is willing to continue working with the international community to promote a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the Palestinian question based on the two-State solution.”
Interview: Palestinians appreciate Chinese support for their national rights, says diplomat - Pretty thin. From Mansour: “The most important thing is that China attaches great importance to the Palestinian issue and raises it to the level of important priorities on the Chinese foreign policy agenda."
Xi meets Sisi as China, Arab countries to hold conference - Little here about the Xi-Sisi meeting or China-Egypt summit, but two of China’s most plugged in MENA academics, Niu Xinchun and Sun Degang, offer predictions on outcomes. Niu speculates aerospace industry, space cooperation, and cultural exchanges. Sun expects digital economy and bio-pharmacy.
Top Chinese diplomat meets foreign guests - Useful perhaps as a list of different Arab participants at CASCF.
Xi holds talks with Egyptian president - A more detailed readout of the Xi-Sisi meeting, including cooperation priorities for the two countries during the “2024 China-Egypt year of partnership”. As I wrote earlier this week, this year marks the 10-year anniversary of the comprehensive strategic partnership so there will be some energy spent to build momentum here.
Interview: China-Arab States Cooperation Forum reflects common desire to build "strong relations," says Arab League chief - An interview with Secretary-General of the League of Arab States Ahmed Aboul-Gheit.