Foreign Minister Wang Yi will conclude his 3-country visit to the region tomorrow in Jordan. There’s been a lot of coverage but little news so far. Beyond bilateral issues, I suspect agenda development for the upcoming China-Arab States summit is a big part of the meetings.
A visit to Jordan makes sense in terms of Beijing’s efforts to play a more substantial role on Palestinian issues. The China-Jordan bilateral relationship has remained relatively modest compared with other MENA states. Jordan is deeply tethered to the US and is not a major market. Chinese companies haven’t made huge inroads there, and it’s been unimpressive as a source of construction contracting and destination for major Chinese investment, so this visit is most likely focused on Palestine.
The Saudi visit, on the other hand, makes sense in the context of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to Washington last month. The types of agreements he was pursuing with the US would limit opportunities for China, and given the surge in Chinese investment into the Kingdom I’m sure Wang would like to convey to the Saudis that China “is ready to play a part as the ‘most reliable partner’ in the Middle Eastern country’s revitalisation,” as per his conversation with MbS.
The Saudi visit also included the 5th High Level Joint Committee meeting with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud. This is the steering committee established during Xi’s 2016 visit when the two sides signed their comprehensive strategic partnership agreement, and has been a useful mechanism in charting the course, regularising senior meetings, and coordinating trade, investment and contracting. It also comes directly on the heels of last week’s trilateral China-Saudi-Iran meeting in Tehran, during which a lot of regional diplomatic efforts were discussed.
The UAE visit is interesting, especially with the China-UAE air force drills currently taking place in the UAE. The headline in many of the stories about the UAE visit was the China-GCC free trade agreement, with Wang expressing hope that the UAE can play a role in moving the FTA towards a conclusion and his Emirati counterpart Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed responding that he’s willing to play a positive role in the matter. It was also a talking point in a meeting in Riyadh with Jasem Albudaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, with Wang noting, according to Reuters, “The talks have lasted for more than 20 years, and conditions for all aspects are basically mature, it is time to make a final decision.”
Long-time readers of the Newsletter will recognize that this is not a new point. Li Qiang emphasized the FTA during the China-ASEAN-GCC summit in May and last fall during his visit to the Gulf. Wang has brought it up repeatedly, as did Yang Jiechi in 2021 and Xi Jinping in 2016. Chinese leaders have been calling for this to get this done for nearly a decade. At this moment, when protectionism and closing economies are a concern globally, I understand Wang’s appeal for an FTA as a “strong signal to the world about defending multilateralism.”
At the same time, I’d encourage FM Wang to read this recent piece by Greg Ip at the Wall Street Journal, where he notes that “as China moralizes against protectionism, its imports are down 3%, in dollar terms…This reveals an uncomfortable truth: Beijing is pursuing a “beggar thy neighbor” growth model at everyone else’s expense.” Free trade with China isn’t an easy sale these days. The GCC countries, particularly Saudi Arabia and to a lesser extent the UAE, are in the process of expanding their own domestic manufacturing capacities, and unfettered Chinese imports would dramatically undermine those efforts, as I wrote in a recent column for AGBI. I don’t expect a big movement on the FTA any time soon.
In any case, a lot of links on the China-UAE meeting below, a couple on China-KSA, and an op-ed on China-Jordan, with presumably more to come after meetings wrap tomorrow.
Wang Yi Holds Talks with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the UAE Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan - PRC Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Wang Yi expressed the hope that the UAE will play an active role in promoting the early completion of the negotiations on the free trade agreement between China and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). China is also ready to enhance policy communication and position coordination with the UAE on multilateral platforms such as BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the United Nations, jointly safeguard multilateralism and free trade, defend international fairness and justice, and promote the building of a more just and equitable global governance system.
Abdullah bin Zayed, Chinese Foreign Minister affirm depth of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between two countries in joint statement - UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Both sides expressed their high appreciation for the positive outcomes achieved through practical cooperation between the two countries in all fields, affirming their readiness to enhance cooperation in the areas of economy, trade, investment, oil and natural gas, renewable energy, water, infrastructure, technology, research and science.
They also stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation in military affairs, law enforcement, and combating extremism and terrorism, as well as intensifying exchanges in Chinese language education, tourism and civil aviation, in a manner that continues to enrich the foundations of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries.
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed meets Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to advance ties - The National.
The two-day visit by Mr Wang, which began on Friday, came as a number of UAE-China partnerships were announced as part of Abu Dhabi Finance Week.
Among these, the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (Adio) announced a partnership with the China International Federation of Entrepreneurs to “link its global network of companies and investment institutions with Abu Dhabi’s advanced ecosystem”, Wam reported.
Badr Al Olama, Director General of Adio, said that through this collaboration, his office provides global investors with “high-growth opportunities in an environment characterised by stability and innovation, thus consolidating Abu Dhabi’s position as a major gateway between East and West and a global centre for sustainable investment”.
China’s Wang Yi urges UAE to help close free-trade deal with Gulf Cooperation Council - South China Morning Post.
Wang also called for both nations to “deepen cooperation in traditional fields such as investment, oil and gas, and infrastructure, while exploring new areas including renewable energy and technological innovation”.
Additionally, he expressed hope that the UAE would help in advancing negotiations for an early conclusion of the China-GCC free-trade agreement.
Al Nahyan, who is also deputy prime minister of the UAE, said in response that his country was “willing to play a positive role” in the matter.
Wang Yi Meets with Special Envoy of UAE President to China Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak - PRC Mission to the UN.
On December 13, 2025 local time, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Special Envoy of the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to China Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak in Abu Dhabi.
Wang Yi stated that China is a long-term strategic partner that the UAE can rely on and trust. The friendship and mutual trust between President Xi Jinping and President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan have provided the most important political guarantee for the development of China-UAE relations. Developing relations with the UAE is a manifestation of China’s consistent diplomatic commitment to treating all countries as equals regardless of their size and always standing together with fellow developing countries. China’s development and growth represent a boost to the force for world peace, a rise in the strength of the Global South, and an enhancement of the factors for world stability. Under the current international circumstances, China is willing to maintain high-level exchanges with the UAE, enhance strategic mutual trust, deliver on the important common understandings reached between the two heads of state, promote the advancement of cooperation across various fields between the two countries, and elevate the China-UAE comprehensive strategic partnership to a higher level.
Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak said that China is an important strategic partner of the UAE, and the profound friendship between the two heads of state is a valuable asset for bilateral relations. Developing relations with China is a top priority of the UAE’s foreign policy. With full confidence in China’s future development, the UAE always views its relations with China from a long-term perspective and is willing to further enhance high-level exchanges with China, learn from China’s experience in governance, and build new bridges for cooperation in economy and trade, investment, energy, science and technology and other fields to achieve mutual benefit and win-win results.
Joint press release issued on meeting between Chinese, UAE FMs - Global Times.
Both sides highly appreciated the positive outcomes of bilateral practical cooperation across various fields, and agreed to strengthen cooperation in economy and trade, investment, oil and gas, renewable energy, water resources, infrastructure, scientific research, military, law enforcement and security, counter-terrorism and de-radicalization, and expand exchanges in Chinese language education, tourism and civil aviation, so as to constantly enrich the China-UAE comprehensive strategic partnership.
Chinese FM discusses 2nd China-Arab summit, advances talk on FTA with UAE counterpart - Global Times.
Zhu Yongbiao, executive director of the Research Center for the Belt and Road at Lanzhou University, told the Global Times on Sunday that the three countries are highly significant in the Arab world.
The UAE is significant due to its unique geographic position and foreign policy while Saudi Arabia has the strongest overall strength among Arab countries. Jordan is closely linked to the Palestinian issue, as it hosts a large number of Palestinian refugees and therefore plays a special role. Zhu added that the selection of the three destinations reflects a comprehensive consideration of regional political, security and diplomatic factors, and is also based on the solid foundation of China’s existing cooperation with the region particularly in economic and industrial fields.
Niu Xinchun, executive director of the China-Arab Research Institute of Ningxia University, told the Global Times on Sunday that the Chinese Foreign Minister’s visit carries three key implications. First, the Middle East is now at a critical turning point, with major hotspots in a temporary bottleneck period but no fundamental resolution, making coordination between China and Arab countries particularly important. Second, the visit may also serve as preparation for the second China-Arab Summit to be held next year, including prior consultations on participation and agenda setting. In addition, Niu noted that with China-Arab relations having developed well in economic, trade and political fields in recent years, the visit provides an opportunity for further communication and coordination on bilateral ties.
China willing to work with Saudi Arabia to elevate bilateral ties to new heights: FM - People’s Daily.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Sunday that China has always regarded Saudi Arabia as a priority in its Middle East diplomacy and an important partner in its global diplomatic strategy, and is willing to work with Saudi Arabia to elevate bilateral ties to new heights.
Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks while co-chairing the Fifth Meeting of the Political Sub-committee of the China-Saudi Arabia High-level Joint Committee in Riyadh with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud.
Wang said that Saudi Arabia is an important member of the Arab and Islamic worlds and an independent force in the process of multipolarization.
Saudi Crown Prince Meets with Chinese Foreign Minister - Asharq Al Awsat.
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, met on Sunday with Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi in Riyadh.
During the meeting, they reviewed relations and explored ways to develop them in a manner that serves the mutual interests of the two countries.
They also discussed recent developments in the region and the world.
The meeting was attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah; Minister of State, Cabinet Member and National Security Advisor Musaed Al-Aiban; and Saudi Ambassador to China Abdulrahman Al-Harbi.
Attending from the Chinese side were Director-General of the Department of West Asian and North African Affairs at the Chinese Foreign Ministry Chen Weiqing and China’s Ambassador to the Kingdom Chang Hua.
China urges Gulf nations to seal free trade agreement - Reuters.
In a separate meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Wang underscored China’s readiness to play a part as the “most reliable partner” in the Middle Eastern country’s revitalisation, as well as “inject more stabilising factors” to realise peace and security in the region, another foreign ministry statement showed.
The countries have agreed to mutually exempt visas for diplomatic and special passport holders from both sides, according to the joint statement.
GCC Secretary-General, Foreign Minister of China boost cooperation, review free trade negotiations - Emirates News Agency WAM.
Jasem Albudaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), met today in Riyadh with Wang Yi, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China.
According to a statement from the GCC General Secretariat, the meeting focused on enhancing cooperation between the GCC and China in areas covered by the Joint Action Plan for 2023–2027, as well as reviewing the progress of Free Trade Agreement negotiations.
Albudaiwi noted that this visit would further strengthen Gulf–Chinese relations, highlighting the support and attention these ties receive from the leadership of both sides.
He commended China’s stance on the Palestinian cause and expressed appreciation for China’s substantial efforts to promote security and stability in the region.
The statement also cited Wang Yi praising the GCC General Secretariat’s initiatives to advance the partnership between the two parties in a manner that benefits their shared interests. He acknowledged the GCC countries’ regional and international roles and their continued support for China on various issues of mutual concern.
Jordanian-Chinese Relations: A Strong Strategic Partnership - Jordanian News. This op-ed gives a sense of how modest the bilateral relationship between the two is at this stage.
Amidst rapid international transformations, Jordanian-Chinese relations stand out as a distinguished model of robust bilateral ties built on mutual respect, shared interests, and a forward-looking vision. The visit of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to Jordan tomorrow presents a significant opportunity to strengthen bilateral relations and intensify political and economic coordination, reflecting the evolution of these relations into a strategic partnership through which the leadership of both countries seeks to broaden the horizons of cooperation and serve the interests of their friendly peoples.