Algeria in BRICS, Chinese in Kuwait port project, a Saudi delegation looking to develop auto manufacturing capacity, satellites in Africa, Turkish journalists on Xinjiang

I was planning to go deep into the White Paper on China’s Energy Transition but there was a surprisingly big build up of China-Middle East news over the weekend. Tomorrow, inshallah.

BRICS New Development Bank authorizes Algeria to join - Reuters. I’ve been dismissive of BRICS pretty consistently over the years, and it’s going to take a lot to switch me into a believer. For now, more momentum as the NDB gets another country as a member. Welcome, Algeria!

Kuwait: Public Works Minister, Chinese delegation discuss Mubarak Al-Kabeer port - Kuwait News Agency. I’ve been through seven articles and Instagram, and haven’t been able to find out who is in the ‘Chinese delegation,’ other than a reference to a “Chinese state-owned giant”. The meeting was concerning a port project in Kuwait. Kuwait’s Minister of Public Works, Noura Al-Mashaan, took the delegation on an inspection visit to the project site on Boubyan Island.

Al-Mashaan confirmed that there are seven agreements signed with the Chinese government, the first of which concerns the completion of the Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port project, indicating that the completion rate is about 50 percent of the first phase.

She stressed keenness of Chinese government companies and institutions in implementing the Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port project in all its stages, explaining that China is very prominent in the fields of construction, management and operation of ports.

The delegation also met with Kuwait’s Minister of Finance Nora Al Fassam. This is noteworthy to me just because, as I wrote a few months ago, there hasn’t been a lot of momentum in the China-Kuwait relationship. Kuwait and the US have a deep and long-standing commitment, and I don’t know if that puts a ceiling on what the Kuwaitis are willing to do with Beijing, but for whatever reason it’s been an inconsequential relationship, at least relative to many neighbors like Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE. It’s interesting to see some movement here.

Saudi Arabia seeks Chinese tech as it reinvents itself as car and automation hub - South China Morning Post. Mining, manufacturing, investment…all key to Saudi Vision 2030. If you want to compete with China in the Kingdom, the Vision needs to be your playbook.

Saudi industry and mineral resources minister Bandar Alkhorayef is leading a delegation to visit Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Singapore from Sunday until September 8, according to a statement from his office. The trip is aimed at improving relations and exploring joint venture opportunities…

Key meetings in Guangzhou, capital of the southern Chinese province of Guangdong, will include discussions with GAC Group, a major electric vehicle (EV) maker, as well as lithium battery producer General Lithium and communication tech giant Huawei, the statement said.

The data also shows that Chinese investment in Saudi Arabia last year included US$5.6 billion in original equipment manufacturing for the automotive industry and US$5.26 billion in the minerals sector, with semiconductor investment amounting to US$4.26 billion.

According to official Chinese data, the total value of goods exported to Saudi Arabia from January to July was US$27.55 billion, an increase of nearly 12 per cent compared to the same period last year. Meanwhile, the total value of goods imported from Saudi Arabia decreased by 7.3 per cent compared to the same period last year to US$34.97 billion.

This article from Arab News has some details about the Singaporean leg of the trip:

In Singapore, the agenda features discussions with the Deputy Prime Minister, the Minister of Trade and Industry, and the Minister of Manpower. The delegation will also meet with A*STAR, the Singapore Manufacturing Federation, and visit Tuas Port, the world’s largest automated port, alongside additional ministries and companies.

China-Africa space cooperation benefits people across continent - Xinhua. A couple of readers are always happy to see space and satellite stories. This one talks about space cooperation in Africa as we gear up for FOCAC. Enjoy Larry. MENA-relevant content:

The Egyptian satellite MISRSAT-2, a high-resolution optical remote-sensing satellite, has been orbiting more than 600 km above the ground, providing the North African country with services such as resource surveys, environmental disaster monitoring and assessment, urban planning, and crop growth evaluation for agriculture and forestry.

Launched from China in December 2023, the MISRSAT-2 was assembled and tested at the China-aided AIT (assembly, integration and test) center in Egypt, making it the first African country with a complete satellite AIT capability.

The collaboration between China and Egypt highlights the success of China-Africa space cooperation, leading to notable advancements in satellite exports as well as resource sharing, space technology exchange and infrastructure development in the field of space.

China has developed and launched several satellites for African countries, including two communication satellites for Nigeria in 2007 and 2011, respectively, a communication satellite for Algeria in 2017, a cube satellite for Ethiopia in 2019, a scientific experimental satellite for Sudan in 2019, and MISRSAT-2 for Egypt in 2023.

In 2017, China launched Algeria's first communications satellite, Alcomsat-1, which now supports broadcasting, television, broadband access, and mobile and emergency communications. The satellite's significance is so profound that its image is featured on Algeria's 500 Dinar banknotes as a national symbol of pride.

Turkish Journalists are Now ‘Telling the Xinjiang Story Well’ for Beijing - China Brief. When Turkiye’s FM Fidan visited China in June and had a highly publicized visit to Xinjiang, the Uighur angle to the bilateral relationship got a lot of attention. This article from Aynur Kerimu unpacks it for us:

Executive Summary:

• Türkiye could be a key player in the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) strategy of coopting foreign journalists in order to create a more favorable image of its policies in Xinjiang.

• Türkiye’s participation in PRC state-backed tours for journalists, along with recent economic deals, indicates a shift in Ankara’s stance on Xinjiang.

• The timing of this media outreach is strategic, capitalizing on anti-Western sentiment in Türkiye due to the Palestine-Israel conflict and tensions with the EU.

• The content produced about Xinjiang promotes a narrative of “unity, harmony, and prosperity” that starkly contrasts with reports of severe human rights violations, and completely ignores ongoing abuses in the region.