President Xi's Three-Country Middle East Tour (KSA, Egypt, Iran): News, Images and Analyses

[TaiShang]

the best part is Chinese dont interfere in anyone's internal affair

That's the mainstay of China's foreign policy, my friend. We believe that whatever change a nation must have, it should come from inside. Imposing upon others what we believe to be the right thing for them is the worst kind of arrogant behavior (even when we consider this is done in utmost moral/altruist way, which is never the case) and always ends up in greater disaster.

Drones、drones and drones。

Matter of importance must be repeated thrice。

I guess so far no military-related deal with the Saudi Arabia.

Probably they are already choked to throat with US hardware. And with their economy in not so good shape, no further stamina to swallow any more.

Hopefully Egypt, which distanced itself a little bit from the US military industrial complex, and Iran will make some purchases.

***

China, Saudi Arabia eye more industrial capacity cooperation

China and Saudi Arabia agreed to lift their bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership on Tuesday, eyeing more industrial capacity cooperation.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) is awarded with Abdulaziz Medal by Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud after their talks in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 19, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]



The two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding in industrial capacity cooperation after Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud held talks with visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping. The document also said they will jointly pursue the China-proposed "Belt and Road" initiative.

"I believe it will deepen the mutual strategic trust, lead to greater achievements in our mutually beneficial cooperation, and help facilitate and broaden our shared interests in international and regional affairs," Xi said on the upgrading of the bilateral ties.

The King said that the two peoples will benefit from the elevated ties and that Saudi Arabia supports the "Belt and Road" initiative.

The "Belt and Road" initiative refers to the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road, proposals put forward by Xi in 2013 to boost interconnectivity and regional development.

The Chinese president arrived in Saudi Arabia Tuesday on the first stop of his three-nation tour of the Middle East, as the world's second-largest economy seeks closer political and economic ties with the region.

It is the first state visit by a Chinese head of state to Saudi Arabia in seven years. Xi will also travel to Egypt and Iran on his first overseas visit this year that lasts from Jan. 19 to 23.

The two leaders agreed to boost strategic communication, maximize the synergy of their development plans, build a stable long-term energy cooperation, and promote dialogues between the civilizations.

They also pledged to make the China-initiated Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank a win-win financing platform whereby regional interconnectivity can receive a boost.

The two leaders said they appreciate the progress made in the China-Gulf Cooperation Council Free Trade Area talks, and agreed that the free trade area should be established as early as possible.

The two countries signed a slew of cooperation deals after the talks between their leaders, covering sectors such as energy, communications, environment, culture, aerospace, science and technology.

The Chinese president was awarded the King Abdulaziz Medal by Salman, the highest order in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia is China's biggest global supplier of crude oil and its biggest trading partner in West Asia and Africa. In 2013, China became the biggest trading partner of Saudi Arabia for the first time.

Two-way trade reached 69.1 billion U.S. dollars in 2014, growing by 230 times over that of 1990 when the two countries established diplomatic ties.

In their joint statement on establishing a comprehensive strategic partnership, China and Saudi Arabia vowed to increase cooperation in security as well as regional and international affairs.

The two countries said they resolutely oppose terrorism in any form that threatens world peace and stability, and that they are "against linking terrorism with any religion or religious sect."

China appreciates Riyadh's support for the establishment of a United Nations counter-terrorism center and supports the efforts of Saudi Arabia and other countries in combating terrorism, the statement said.

On the Syria issue, they expressed deep concern over the grave situation in the country, while renewing their calls for a political settlement to the issue in a peaceful manner as soon as possible.

The two countries also stressed that humanitarian aid and relief to the Syrian refugees should be continued, encouraging the international community to provide greater support.

China and Saudi Arabia also affirmed their stance on support for the unity, independence and sovereignty of Yemen, while calling on all social, religious and political sects in the country to maintain their national solidarity.

"Any decision that may cause social disruption and chaos in Yemen should be avoided," the statement said.

The two countries voiced their support for the legitimate regime of Yemen and for the resolutions of the UN Security Council as well as the proposals of the Gulf Cooperation Council on Yemen.

On Palestine, China and Saudi Arabia said they support the establishment of an independent, unified state of Palestine with full sovereignty, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

In addition, the two countries agreed to seek political solutions to regional hotspot issues, and support the establishment of a zone free of nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East.

 

[Red Wolf]

Chinese are very good in playing world politics. they are good in calculating the moves their adversaries and the best part is Chinese dont interfere in anyone's internal affair and they prefer people to people contact instead of leaders to leaders...Live & let live

Every great power upstart chants the same slogan of non-interference and non-interventionism. US was once a leading proponent of non-interventionism until foreign entanglements became the norm. China will acquire the taste of interventionism too. Only a matter of time.

 

[pts_m_h_2016]

Every great power upstart chants the same slogan of non-interference and non-interventionism. US was once a leading proponent of non-interventionism[/URL] until foreign entanglements became the norm. China will acquire the taste of interventionism too. Only a matter of time.

Spot on.

China did intervene in Korea and Vietnam.

What with the non-interventionism?

It is still an amateur player compared to the US, UK or other Western countries, that's just all. Granted, it's not a Western country and its worldview need not be the same as Western countries, but certain essential traits of interstate relations shall remain the same for all great powers.

Besides, it is simply naive to believe that non-intervention by China is fair or just, since that leaves the field open for the US and Western powers to intervene and meddle in the affairs of many countries, which often times go against China's core interest.

If all countries could resist foreign meddling in their internal affairs successfully, then this idea would have been realistic. Now it is just idealistic. China will definitely join the fray, but perhaps, at a later time and a in a different manner.

 

[Red Wolf]

Spot on.

China did intervene in Korea and Vietnam.

What with the non-interventionism?

It is still an amateur player compared to the US, UK or other Western countries, that's just all. Granted, it's not a Western country and its worldview need not be the same as Western countries, but certain essential traits of interstate relations shall remain the same for all great powers.

Besides, it is simply naive to believe that non-intervention by China is fair or just, since that leaves the field open for the US and Western powers to intervene and meddle in the affairs of many countries, which often times go against China's core interest.

If all countries could resist foreign meddling in their internal affairs successfully, then this idea would have been realistic. Now it is just idealistic. China will definitely join the fray, but perhaps, at a later time and a in a different manner.

Korea and Vietnam were neighbours making intervention an easy decision. As it stands, China's political leadership isn't confident in PLA's force projection capabilities. Once it is, "Chinese leadership" will become indispensable to the world.

 

[pts_m_h_2016]

Korea and Vietnam were neighbours making intervention an easy decision. As it stands, China's political leadership isn't confident in PLA's force projection capabilities. Once it is, "Chinese leadership" will become to the

The point is, some member thought China is non-interventionist. But that is not true, it did intervene militarily in Korea and Vietnam, whether for good reasons or bad.

When it has the required power projection capabilities, it will definitely intervene elsewhere, and the first to receive its wrath would be ASEAN members, particularly, Malaysia and Brunei. Have you seen how close to Brunei's borders that 9-dash line map goes? It looks like Viet/Philippines have enmity with China, but China leaves them some breathing room.

Don't forget how China jumped on the US bandwagon to attack its oppressed Uyghur Muslim minority. Whoever thinks China will be a benevolent non-Muslim power to topple the USA and help the Muslim world out needs to take a recognized IQ test first and confirm if his score is in the 3 digits.

China is entirely in the US camp, albeit China is not democratic and that does not sit all that well with the US. Other than that, China is just another 'evil Western country' for all intents and purposes.

The Muslim world needs an intellectual 'super heavyweight'. Right now, all you have are Iran and Turkey (which are 'middle weights' at best), if not welterweights. The rest of the Muslim world are not even fit for entering the ring.

 

[Jlaw]

Don't forget how China jumped on the US bandwagon to attack its oppressed Uyghur Muslim minority

Don't forget you French killing your own Muslim citizens claiming it to be a "terrorist" attack when it clearly was not.

 

[pts_m_h_2016]

Don't forget you French killing your own Muslim citizens claiming it to be a "terrorist" attack when it clearly was not.

Cheap diversionary tactics.

Whatever France did or does is not of interest to this thread or my argument.

 

[Manidabest]

Every great power upstart chants the same slogan of non-interference and non-interventionism. US was once a leading proponent of non-interventionism until foreign entanglements became the norm. China will acquire the taste of interventionism too. Only a matter of time.

USA is a young nation compare to China & historically you will never find Chinese interfering in another country

 

[Jlaw]

Cheap diversionary tactics.

Whatever France did or does is not of interest to this thread or my argument.

You brought up that China used the US tactic to label certain groups as terrorist for their own cause. I merely state to you if that is the case, France should not use the Charlie Hebdo and the recent recent paris shooting as a way to label Muslims in your own country as terrorists.

 

[pts_m_h_2016]

You brought up that China used the US tactic to label certain groups as terrorist for their own cause. I merely state to you if that is the case, France should not use the Charlie Hebdo and the recent recent paris shooting as a way to label Muslims in your own country as terrorists.

Maybe you failed to understand, the topic is not related to France, or what it did right or wrong. Nor is the argument related to France. That is a non sequitur.

An oppressive China ruled by a despotic regime of crooks and corrupted nepotistic rulers and that too communist will naturally be antagonistic to Muslims, and you even banned Islamic religious regulations for Muslims in Xinjiang. There is no comparison between a Western European nation and a communist despotic regime.

Better stick to making shoes and leather bags for your Western bosses.

 

[phancong]

The point is, some member thought China is non-interventionist. But that is not true, it did intervene militarily in Korea and Vietnam, whether for good reasons or bad.

When it has the required power projection capabilities, it will definitely intervene elsewhere, and the first to receive its wrath would be ASEAN members, particularly, Malaysia and Brunei. Have you seen how close to Brunei's borders that 9-dash line map goes? It looks like Viet/Philippines have enmity with China, but China leaves them some breathing room.

Don't forget how China jumped on the US bandwagon to attack its oppressed Uyghur Muslim minority. Whoever thinks China will be a benevolent non-Muslim power to topple the USA and help the Muslim world out needs to take a recognized IQ test first and confirm if his score is in the 3 digits.

China is entirely in the US camp, albeit China is not democratic and that does not sit all that well with the US. Other than that, China is just another 'evil Western country' for all intents and purposes.

The Muslim world needs an intellectual 'super heavyweight'. Right now, all you have are Iran and Turkey (which are 'middle weights' at best), if not welterweights. The rest of the Muslim world are not even fit for entering the ring.

China intervene in Korean War because Ally troops threaten to start a war and invade China if China did allowed ally troop to push further into China territory, by responded and pushed ally troop out of North Korea, successfully prevent any foreign invasion on it own soil for the last 50 yrs. By directly helping Vietnamese pushed US out of Vietnam, keep the US from directly threaten military invasion through Vietnam territory. China have no other choice but to intervene in both Vietnam and Korean War for China long term survival, then 40 yrs later, China rises from dirt poor nation into a economy powerhouse. China did not intervene of other nation affair because of some political idiealogies far away from mainland China.

Maybe you failed to understand, the topic is not related to France, or what it did right or wrong. Nor is the argument related to France. That is a non sequitur.

An oppressive China ruled by a despotic regime of crooks and corrupted nepotistic rulers and that too communist will naturally be antagonistic to Muslims, and you even banned Islamic religious regulations for Muslims in Xinjiang. There is no comparison between a Western European nation and a communist despotic regime.

Better stick to making shoes and leather bags for your Western bosses.

 

[Jlaw]

Maybe you failed to understand, the topic is not related to France, or what it did right or wrong. Nor is the argument related to France. That is a non sequitur.

An oppressive China ruled by a despotic regime of crooks and corrupted nepotistic rulers and that too communist will naturally be antagonistic to Muslims, and you even banned Islamic religious regulations for Muslims in Xinjiang. There is no comparison between a Western European nation and a communist despotic regime.

Better stick to making shoes and leather bags for your Western bosses.

Right. This crazy "despotic communist regime" is the world's biggest trading nation, 2nd largest economy in the world, had a $594 billion USD trade surplus in 2015. Yes, these bad commies, they are so backwards!

EU without Germany and UK is nothing. Remember this before you think you are all high and mighty.

 

[pts_m_h_2016]

China intervene in Korean War because Ally troops threaten to start a war and invade China if China did allowed ally troop to push further into China territory, by responded and pushed ally troop out of North Korea, successfully prevent any foreign invasion on it own soil for the last 50 yrs. By directly helping Vietnamese pushed US out of Vietnam, keep the US from directly threaten military invasion through Vietnam territory. China have no other choice but to intervene in both Vietnam and Korean War for China long term survival, then 40 yrs later, China rises from dirt poor nation into a economy powerhouse. China did not intervene of other nation affair because of some political idiealogies far away from mainland China.

That is just the excuse. Nowhere did the United States threaten to invade China proper or it could not have succeeded with China's massive population and military of guerrilla fighters.

The United States also has its ample reasons whether justified or not for intervention, as does China. Same China also intervened in Korea during its imperial eras, in Vietnam, and in Central Asia. East Turkestan was only added to China recently, by force. The Turks there are as far apart from the Han Chinese as the East Africans are from the West Africans.

The Chinese behaviour in every ASEAN country leaves no doubt in my mind that they are epitomes of anti Islamic behaviour. You know that the only Chinese majority country in ASEAN is Singapore and it is rightly considered the Israel of South East Asia for its anti Muslim posture?

Malaysia allowed 40 percent of its population to consist of foreign nonMuslim scum, and yet those traitorous scum in their own countries, remain the least tolerant of other languages, cultures, traditions, races, religions and beliefs.

Some Western moron was ranting about some immigrant not learning English in UK, hello, what about your British or Yankee invaders not learning the local language when you invaded those countries or colonized them? What of the Kafir Chinese or Indians who never accept Islamic belief in Malaysia? What of that traitorous Chinese population that still stick like pests in Malaysian territory of Singapore?

The problem with the Muslim world today in 2016 is largely self inflicted due to lack of IQ, and if China ever replaces the USA in the next three decades, the Muslim world will be in for greater misery.

 

[phancong]

Maybe you failed to understand, the topic is not related to France, or what it did right or wrong. Nor is the argument related to France. That is a non sequitur.

An oppressive China ruled by a despotic regime of crooks and corrupted nepotistic rulers and that too communist will naturally be antagonistic to Muslims, and you even banned Islamic religious regulations for Muslims in Xinjiang. There is no comparison between a Western European nation and a communist despotic regime.

Better stick to making shoes and leather bags for your Western bosses.

Million people in Europe and in the US wish their company not to outsource their jobs to China so they can find the job to make end meet, millions European willing to work in the shoes factories but their skill not in line with the demanding runaway wages and benefit so the company ship thief job out of Europe and end up in China.

 

[pts_m_h_2016]

Right. This crazy "despotic communist regime" is the world's biggest trading nation, 2nd largest economy in the world, had a $594 billion USD trade surplus in 2015. Yes, these bad commies, they are so backwards!

EU without Germany and UK is nothing. Remember this before you think you are all high and mighty.

I did not say China is backwards, but now that you remind me, yes it is terribly backward compared to its neighbours Taiwan or Korea, not to speak of Japan, France, Germany or other established industrialized powers.

Another limitation of mediocre people is they can only think of money.

Money is needed for daily livelihoods, but money does not buy you everything. It has its uses, but the uses are limited. China is still very much a laggard and a copycat nation that has still not surpass the US despite outnumbering them 9 to 2.

You are wrong. France is a core and founding member of the European Union. For example, the European Space Agency would be nonexistent without French contributions but other European countries are also very capable and contribute adequately. Most importantly, upstart countries have never made the great scientific contributions, and created literary and artistic masterpieces that will remain etched in humanity's memory for centuries.

Trade statistics? You make me laugh with such mundane thoughts. You are good with making cheap shoes and bags and clothes for your Western bosses, I grant you that.

Million people in Europe and in the US wish their company not to outsource their jobs to China so they can find the job to make end meet, millions European willing to work in the shoes factories but their skill not in line with the demanding runaway wages and benefit so the company ship thief job out of Europe and end up in China.

I am not sure what you mean because your English language skills is not adequate.

From what I understand, yes there are millions of Europeans who earn more from government welfare programmes each month and year doing just nothing than Chinese workers earn toiling for 16 hours a day, 7 days a week, even 365 days a year.

The truth is this modern civilization if you call it is just a European gift.

All that East Asians or Chinese and Koreans or Japanese have done is take European technology and modify it marginally. No real groundbreaking theory or invention to shake up the world of Physics, Mathematics, Science or Engineering. That's where Confucian learning holds you people back, and that is where Europe is superior to all of the world combined.

And don't talk about USA it is nothing more than an illegitimate child of Europe left alone in North America.