Midst weakening US-Saudi Arabia relations, Xi JinpingThe minister is trying to shore up the crown prince by offering to forge stronger ties with the Gulf nation.

What happened: China’s new foreign minister Qin Gang offered to establish a China-Gulf free trade zone “as soon as possible,” the Chinese ministry said in a statement released late Monday.

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Qin – who was recently appointed to the position – had a phone conversation with his Saudi Arabian counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud. He also appreciated Riyadh’s consistent support on issues affecting Beijing’s core interests.

The Chinese Foreign Minister Urging continued strengthening of China-Gulf strategic partnershipsaid the two nations should further expand cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, energy, infrastructure, investment, finance and high technology.

Meanwhile, Prince Faisal said Riyadh regards ties with China as an important cornerstone of foreign relations and that the Middle Eastern nation fully adheres to the one-China principle.

The US Saudi The relationship faced serious challenges under the Biden administration In recent years. And the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine and the Gulf Cooperation Council’s growing ties with Russia and China only made matters worse.

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