Chinese President Xi Jinping has embarked on state visits to Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Iran. His first diplomatic trip of the year comes amid escalating tensions in the region. It's also his first Middle Eastern tour since taking office in 2012.
President Xi Jinping's visit to Saudi Arabia is dominating headlines of local newspapers. His arrival comes as Saudi and Iran lock horns in their worst conflict in over a decade. The world is watching closely how and whether Beijing can strike a delicate balance between the two feuding giants in the Middle East.
Relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia have long been strained…the two countries locked in what some call a "Middle Eastern Cold War."
Saudi Arabia is a Sunni Islamic Kingdom with close ties to the West. Iran, a Shia Islamic Republic founded in the 1979 anti-West revolution.
Saudi Arabia's execution of Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr earlier this month prompted angry Iranian protesters to storm the Saudi Embassy in Tehran, and set it on fire.
"The kingdom, in light of these realities, announces the cutting of diplomatic relations with Iran and requests the departure of delegates of diplomatic missions of the embassy and consulate and offices related to it within 48 hours," Saudi foreign minister Adel Al-Jubei said.
Xi Jinping is the first head of state to visit both Riyadh and Tehran, since the two nations' recent clash over the execution of a Shiite cleric in Saudi Arabia.
Officials say President Xi's trip is not a direct response to recent tensions, but was planned long before, with the aim of boosting bilateral relations with regional powers.
"The signal China is sending to the world is that we are different with other major powers. China does not share any imperial interests in the Middle East, nor does China impose its will and values on the countries in the region by force. Because China is carrying out a non-interference policy. There are a lot of conflicts among the Middle East countries, but they all share a good relationship with China. That is China's significant political advantage in the region and that's why China can play a positive role in resolving those regional issues through a peaceful political process," Fmr Chinese ambasador to Iran, Saudi Arabia Hua Liming said.
Ahead of Xi's arrival, China's ambassador to Saudi Arabia Li Chengwen said Beijing is fully prepared to make concrete efforts to help realize the regional peace and stability.
"From a political point of view, we think Xi's visit is crucial. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China has contributed significantly to resolving tensions in the Middle East, such as its work in the Syrian crisis," Journalist with Middle East newspaper M. Yousuf said.
Analysts say defusing tensions is just one goal of Xi's visit. China says it is also seeking to support Arab states as oil prices continue to tumble, and expand the economic cooperation to non-oil industries, including infrastructure, new energy and aerospace.
