China backs region-led ...
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During President Xi Jinping’s recent meeting with Donald Trump, the two sides discussed the Iranian nuclear issue and the importance of keeping international waterways open for navigation. How do you see these discussions affecting China’s position toward Iran and the future of Iran-US negotiations?
The consensus between the Chinese and US presidents on Iran’s nuclear issue is actually consistent with Tehran’s stated position: Iran does not seek nuclear weapons. Keeping the Strait of Hormuz open also serves Iran’s interests better than closing it. In my view, these discussions have not harmed Iran’s national interests. Beijing’s position was already the same before this meeting between the two presidents. For negotiations to succeed, both Iran and the United States will need to make some compromises.
China has close and growing relations with both Iran and the Arab states of the Persian Gulf. Has the current crisis made this balancing policy more difficult, or could it give Beijing a stronger position to build a new regional framework for cooperation between Iran and its Arab neighbors?
In early 2016, President Xi Jinping visited Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Iran in succession. Ten years later, measured by growth in trade and investment, Iran’s cooperation with China has lagged far behind that of Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Beijing has indeed pursued a balanced diplomatic approach in the Middle East for many years. In economic cooperation, however, China is clearly more likely to choose countries that offer favorable conditions for cooperation. China’s good relations with countries along the Persian Gulf help Beijing engage with all parties on building a new regional framework, but its success ultimately depends on the countries of the region themselves.