Knowledge partnership opens new chapter in Jordan-China ties - China Daily. An op-ed written by Ali Taani. self-described here as the first Jordanian student to earn a doctorate in space science and astronomy from the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The focus here is educational links between Jordan and China, a topic I haven’t looked at with any depth. Beyond the typical Confucius Institute nod (“more than 3,000 students are studying Chinese at seven official language centers and two Confucius Institutes”), some more useful data points:
Academic links are consequently strengthened. In 2015, cooperation with China University of Geosciences in Wuhan included discussions on Jordanian-Chinese university and research centers, alongside academic interest in Jordan. In 2023, the Center for Jordanian Studies was established at the Northwestern Polytechnical University in Xi’an, Northwest China’s Shaanxi province, creating platforms for research, conferences and sustained academic dialogue.
The scale of student mobility also reflects the depth of the relationship. More than 600 Jordanian students have studied in China in fields ranging from medicine and engineering to space science, artificial intelligence and Chinese language, and around 700 Chinese students are studying in Jordan, according to educational authorities on both sides. More than 2,000 Jordanian officials and technicians have also benefited from Chinese training programs.
Also includes some tourism figures, which honestly surprise me with their modesty; I usually think of Jordan as a bigger tourism draw, but maybe that’s just because of living in the Middle East for so long - Jordan’s typically described as a fantastic getaway here, but I suppose it might not be a hot spot on par with Dubai for Chinese tourists:
Apart from that, tourism also plays a significant role in bilateral cultural exchange. Jordan has come into Chinese tourists' eyes recently. The number of Chinese visitors to Jordan increased by 15.9 percent during the first seven months of 2026, reaching 11,931, compared with 10,294 during the same period in 2025, data from Jordan tourism authorities show. During his visit to China, the King expressed Jordan's interest in expanding tourism exchanges and increasing the number of Chinese visitors.
Syria, China mark 70 years of diplomatic relations at Beijing reception - Syrian Arab News Agency. Egypt’s not the only country celebrating 70 years of diplomatic ties with China; Syria is too. Both were a post-Bandung Conference result, and shortly after other Arab countries that were similarly aligned during the Cold War also recognized China - Yemen, Iraq, Algeria all followed in 1958. I’m expecting muted celebrations for Yemen in two years time, but expect some big events, visits and MoUs for Iraq and Algeria.
The Syrian Embassy in Beijing held a reception marking the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Syria and the People’s Republic of China.
The event was attended by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Miao Deyu, senior Chinese officials, heads and members of diplomatic missions, and representatives of the Syrian-Chinese Business Council and economic, academic and cultural institutions.
Mohammad Zakaria Lababidi, chargé d’affaires of the Syrian Embassy in China and minister plenipotentiary, said the anniversary reflected the depth of the historical and cultural ties between the two countries.
Egypt to build $1b AI data center with Nvidia tech as US squeezes out China - The Times of Israel. During the Xi visit in Cairo I posted a story from The New Arab about Huawei’s pitch to be Egypt’s partner of choice for building AI data centres. In a not especially shocking twist, it looks like some competition. I’ve been reading so much commentary about China-Egypt lately that I feel compelled to remind everyone that, despite the past 3 years of nonstop awful US-MENA, the US-Egypt relationship remains a very sturdy and important one that covers a depth and breadth of issues that is really incomparable with China-Egypt ties at this point. Really, check out the Congressional Research Service’s most recent Egypt: Background and US Relations report and you’ll get a sense of just how deep that bilateral is. China isn’t anywhere close to there yet, although it remains an important complementary partner.
Egypt is planning to build its first large-scale artificial intelligence data center, aiming for a 200-megawatt facility worth $1 billion, using Nvidia technology.
The project, announced on Wednesday by Egypt’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology Raafat Hindi, comes as the world’s two main AI rivals — the United States and China — vie for a greater foothold in the Middle East and Africa.
The data center is anticipated to start with a 20-megawatt facility worth $200 million in its initial three-year phase, built by a partnership between Vodafone Business, Elsewedy Electric, and Cassava Technologies — Nvidia’s main partner in Africa.
Libya and China discuss expanding scope of economic and investment cooperation in several sectors to support Libya’s development paths - Libya Herald. Just a short reminder that China has been positioning itself quite well in anticipating a return to business for Libya:
Libya and China discussed expanding the scope of economic and investment cooperation and leveraging Chinese expertise in reconstruction, development, water resources, and artificial intelligence to support Libya’s development paths.
The discussions took place during a meeting at the Cabinet Office in Tripoli today between Mohamed Ben Ghalboun, Minister of State for Prime Ministerial and Cabinet Affairs, and Ma Xu liang, Ambassador of China to Libya.
China’s top diplomat holds talks with Qatari PM - PRC State Council. Finally, here’s the full readout from the meeting between Chinese FM Wang Yi and Qatari PM/FM Sheikh Mohammed Al Thani:
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Beijing on Tuesday.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that in recent years, under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two countries, the China-Qatar strategic partnership has made considerable progress.
Noting that China firmly supports Qatar in safeguarding its national sovereignty, independence, security and stability, Wang expressed the belief that Qatar will continue to offer firm support on issues concerning China’s core interests.
He added that China is the most reliable and long-term partner in Qatar’s development process, and is willing to maintain communication and cooperation with Qatar on international and regional affairs.
Al Thani said Qatar firmly adheres to the one-China principle and opposes external interference in China’s internal affairs, and is willing to enhance communication and coordination with China under the United Nations and other frameworks, safeguard multilateralism, and promote international peace and common development.
On the energy cooperation between China and Qatar, Wang said both sides should consolidate and expand cooperation in both traditional and new energy sectors.
Noting that China is Qatar’s largest trading and energy partner, Al Thani said the Qatari side will overcome difficulties to prioritize ensuring energy supplies to China.
Wang said the ongoing tensions in the Middle East and the Gulf region are severely undermining the security of regional countries and continuously impacting energy, shipping and supply-chain stability.
China stands ready to step up communication and coordination with Qatar and other parties in the region, and supports regional countries in holding their own future and destiny firmly in their hands, restoring regional peace and stability at an early date, and establishing a just and equitable new regional security architecture.
Al Thani said that Qatar appreciates China’s objective and impartial stance, supports China’s initiatives for promoting security in the Middle East, and stands ready to strengthen coordination with China to safeguard the security of global energy supply, and explore a security architecture that embodies the spirit of independence.