BEIJING\/DUBAI
\nThe Middle East and Gulf region should not become a battleground for great-power rivalry, and China is willing to work with Arab nations to achieve lasting peace, Chinese President Xi Jinping told Oman\u2019s sultan on Monday.
\nChina has traditionally played a low-key diplomatic role in the Middle East, but has stepped up efforts to try to help end tensions amid the US-Israeli war on Iran, which has snarled the Strait of Hormuz and driven up global energy and shipping costs. Xi told Omani Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said that the world is undergoing \u201cprofound changes unseen in a century.\u201d
\n\u201cThe Middle East Gulf region should not become an arena for great-power rivalry and geopolitical conflict. Peace and stability in the region require joint nurturing and protection by all parties,\u201d Xi said, according to China\u2019s Foreign Ministry. China has consistently been committed to stopping the war, and hopes to contribute \u201cwisdom and solutions to resolving the region\u2019s security dilemmas,\u201d he added.
\nChina is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with Arab countries, including the Gulf Cooperation Council states, to work together toward restoring peace and achieving lasting stability and security, Xi said. Last week, China\u2019s Foreign Ministry said the country will soon be dispatching its special envoys to the Middle East to promote engagement and de-escalation.
\nHaitham arrived in Beijing on Sunday for a two-day visit, the first by an Omani head of state since the countries established ties in 1978. Haitham told Xi his government had deep appreciation for China\u2019s positions on key issues concerning the region, Omani state media reported.
\n\u201cWe believe that development and stability are inextricably linked,\u201d he said. \u201cThe prosperity of nations requires an environment defined by security, peace, respect for state sovereignty, and adherence to international law \u2014 an environment where disputes are resolved through peaceful means.\u201d
\nHe also said Oman was open to entering into a preferential bilateral trade and investment agreement with China.
\n\u201cWe are confident that such an agreement would open new avenues for trade and investment, facilitate and enhance commercial and investment exchanges between our two nations,\u201d Haitham said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
BEIJING\/DUBAI The Middle East and Gulf region should not become a battleground for great-power rivalry, and China is willing to work with Arab nations to achieve lasting peace, Chinese President Xi Jinping told Oman\u2019s sultan on Monday. China has traditionally played a low-key diplomatic role in the Middle East, but has stepped up efforts to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":575632,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-575614","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-world"],"yoast_head":"\n