China in the Middle East: November 2024

United Arab Emirates

Forty Years of Relations: On November 1, all of Chinese and Emirati state media flooded with news that the two countries’ leaders had congratulated each other on forty years of bilateral relations. The Burj Khalifa displayed a light show to celebrate the milestone, marking three months in a row the world’s tallest building has celebrated an event related to China. Over three days, Abu Dhabi hosted the celebratory weekend “Building Bridges for the Future UAE & China.” The event included “cultural showcases, interactive workshops, live performances, and culinary experiences that reflected the unity and vibrant exchange of both nations.” In late November, the UAE Embassy in Beijing hosted a Chinese-Emirati Friendship Festival, which showcased Emirati culture and included an art exhibit for young artists.

Toward the end of the month, UAE state-run media released a short recap of the bilateral relationship’s highlights over the past forty years. The readout heavily emphasized Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) cooperation, calling it “a cornerstone of this partnership,” praised the economic relationship across the public and private sectors, and called the UAE’s accession to BRICS “a major milestone” in the relationship.

Cooperation Abroad: Six companies from China and the UAE will construct energy plants in eleven regions across Uzbekistan. Valued at $1.3 billion, those projects will turn waste into energy, aiming to reduce landfill and decrease greenhouse gas emissions. Chinese JA Solar and Emirati Global South Utilities also signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Egypt to build two solar energy factories: one to manufacture solar panels and another to produce solar cells. The first factory is estimated to cost $75 million and the second $138 million.

Meetings/Security: Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong and the UAE’s chairman of the International Center of Excellence for Countering Violent Extremism, Ali Al Nuaimi, cochaired the second meeting of the two countries’ bilateral consultation mechanism on counterterrorism and deradicalization cooperation. The Chinese Foreign Ministry readout shared the two sides’ aim to “make greater contributions to safeguarding the security and development interests of the two countries and regional security and stability.”

Toward the middle of November, Abu Dhabi’s justice minister, Abdullah Al Nuaimi, hosted Liu Xuexin, the deputy secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and deputy director of the National Supervisory Commission. According to Emirati state media, “The two sides discussed ways to enhance legal and judicial cooperation, coordinate efforts in combating corruption, and strengthen international collaboration between the two friendly countries.” The following day, the UAE’s speaker of the Federal National Council, Saqr Ghobash, held a meeting with Hu Wenrong, chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Shanghai committee. In Abu Dhabi, the two discussed bilateral relations and the “importance of coordination on a range of issues of mutual interest at regional and international forums.”

An ambassador of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Wang Kejian, visited the UAE in mid-November. During his travels, he met with Anwar Gargash, a senior diplomatic advisor to Abu Dhabi’s president. Wang also attended the Sir Bani Yas Forum, a platform that hosts foreign policy officials from around the world to discuss security and stability in the Middle East.

In the last few days of November, the UAE’s interior minister, Saif bin Zayed, hosted Liu Zhongyi, assistant minister of public security of China. The two discussed “integrating international efforts in combating cross-border organised crimes” and “developing bilateral cooperation relations in enhancing the application of artificial intelligence technologies within security work systems,” per an Emirati readout.

Qasimi Returns to Guangdong: After his travel to the Chinese province in September, Saud Al Qasimi, the emirate of Ras al Khaimah’s leader, returned to Guangdong over four days in mid-November. Just before his travel, Qasimi hosted a Chinese delegation from the Commerce Bureau of Foshan—a city in Guangdong—and officials from the Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone to sign an MOU. The two sides agreed to enhance cooperation in a range of sectors, including electric vehicles (EVs), and to work closer together to increase trade and investment cooperation. While in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong, Qasimi oversaw the signing of an MOU between Ras Al Khaimah and the Chinese province to increase collaboration in “digital economy; scientific and technological innovation; advanced manufacturing; smart cities; and culture and tourism.” During his visit, the Emirati leader also spoke at Sun Yat-sen University and held several business meetings.

New Deals: In the first week of November, the chairman of a major Chinese machinery company, Yang Dongsheng, traveled to the UAE for the grand opening of a new 4S store in Abu Dhabi. Celebrating the company’s twenty-seventh year of operation in the Gulf country, Yang is reported to have signed new contracts in the UAE.

Dubai Aerospace Enterprise agreed to lease to lease four of its fleet’s Boeing 737-8 aircraft to China’s Hainan Airlines—the country’s fourth-largest airline—in late 2025 and early 2026. China Southern Airlines then announced on November 12 a new flight path between the capital city of Liaoning Province, Shenyang, and Dubai.

In other energy news, the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company awarded a subsidiary of the China National Petroleum Corporation $490 million in contracts to do a seismic survey of the Emirati company’s onshore oil fields.

To delay its exit on McDonald’s operations in China, Hong-Kong-based Trustar Capital raised $1 billion for a continuation fund. Reuters reported that Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund, the Qatar Investment Authority, will have made the largest contribution to the fund as it seeks to expand its presence in Asia.

In late November, Silal—Abu Dhabi’s top agricultural company, backed by one of the emirate’s sovereign wealth funds—announced a “strategic partnership” with Chinese Shouguang Vegetable Industry Group. The two firms aim to increase collaboration as they develop new agricultural technologies.

Chinese EV company NIO opened its first Middle East showroom in Abu Dhabi in the last few days of November. The Shanghai-based firm also announced its newer EL8 model for the Emirati market and that two more of its cars would deliver to the country beginning in early 2025. NIO’s first Power Swap Station will be operational in the UAE by the end of 2025, giving China the opportunity to shape the country’s EV infrastructure.

NIO was not the only Chinese EV company making headlines in the UAE in November. Omoda & Jaecoo, a subsidiary of state-owned Chery Holding Group, signed an MOU with Emirati distributer Galadari. The partnership will allow the Chinese company to begin to deliver vehicles in January 2025 as it sets up three showrooms in Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah.

China’s fifth-largest bank, Bank of Communications Co. Ltd. (BOCOM), opened an office in the Dubai International Financial Center at the end of November. Per a press release, “The DIFC branch of BOCOM will be used to promote economic, trade and investment cooperation between China and the MEASA region by fully leveraging its regional advantages and the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.” The deal gives the Chinese bank greater access to the Middle East’s largest financial center and financial services ecosystem.

Bond Issuance: Emirati state media announced in mid-November that Nasdaq Dubai will list $2 billion in bonds from China’s Ministry of Finance—the first time China has listed sovereign bonds in the Middle East. China’s ambassador to the UAE rang the market opening bell to celebrate the occasion. In remarks on the floor, he said, “We are proud to celebrate the landmark listing of China’s USD 2 billion sovereign bond on Nasdaq Dubai, the first in the Middle East. This milestone underscores the strong financial collaboration between China and the UAE and reflects global confidence in China’s economy. As we mark 40 years of diplomatic ties, this listing reaffirms the UAE’s position as a leading regional financial hub.”

China Delivers LNG Ships: Two months ahead of schedule, China’s Jiangnan Shipyard delivered the first of six liquified natural gas (LNG) carriers to the Abu Dhabi National Tanker Company in late November, as reported by Emirati state media. The other LNGs will be delivered over the next two years.

China invests in Middle East energy beyond oil as the region looks to develop renewables. During the twenty-ninth Conference of the Parties, Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, also known as Masdar, signed an MOU with a Chinese state-owned equity investment fund, the Silk Road Fund. To promote Beijing’s “Green Silk Road,” the fund plans to invest $2.8 billion in renewable energy initiatives invested in or operated by Masdar.

Conferences: In late October, the Emirati Ministry of Investment partnered with the Shenzhen Stock Exchange to host the UAE-China Industry and Investment Cooperation Conference to increase bilateral investment opportunities. Conference attendees included UAE government officials and business representatives from China’s private sector.

In the middle of November, the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center hosted the first Middle East Consumer Electronics Show. Organized by the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products, the show hosted exclusively Chinese home products, highlighting sustainable goods. The event is reported to have convened two hundred Chinese companies and six thousand Gulf buyers.

Around the same time, the UAE’s defense conglomerate EDGE Group and defense technology company Calidus Aerospace LLC showcased their products at November’s China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition 2024 hosted in Zhuhai, China. Saudi Arabia’s defense sector also participated. China’s long-awaited J-35A stealth aircraft made its first public appearance with a flying display.

Dubai hosted World Chinese Entrepreneurs Week from November 14 to 17, which “gathered over 600 Chinese business figures and government officials from various fields around the world to explore business opportunities and foster economic collaboration,” according to Chinese state media. During the forum, the UAE’s minister for trade welcomed greater Chinese investment in the Gulf state and celebrated Chinese business contributions to the UAE’s growth.

Abu Dhabi hosted the 2024 Chinese Industrial Products Exhibition at the China-UAE Industrial Capacity Cooperation Demonstration Zone. Ninety companies from both countries participated in the event, which was themed “Showcasing China’s Iconic Industrial Brands.” The joint cooperation zone also signed an MOU with a Hong-Kong-based, green aviation firm, Volar Air Mobility. The agreement seeks deeper collaboration on the development of next-generation, eco-friendly aircraft and infrastructure.

Abu Dhabi launched the International Petroleum Exhibition Conference in November with a focus on artificial intelligence and the energy transition. According to Chinese state media, “Hundreds of Chinese companies, including PetroChina, China National Offshore Oil Corporation” participated in the conference to showcase technological advancements.

The UAE also hosted the sixth China Film Week in Abu Dhabi, organized by Beijing’s embassy and the China Film Administration. The weeklong event was anchored by an exclusive screening of a new Jackie Chan film, Panda Plan. UAE and Chinese film industry professionals used the event’s opening forum to discuss film exchanges between the two countries. In addition to Panda Plan, ten other Chinese movies were screened.

In the middle of November, the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation and the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy hosted the panel “Intercultural Relations Exchange Between UAE and China: Strategy for the Future and Challenges” to discuss bolstering intercultural relations.

Saudi Arabia

China Issues Dollar Bonds in Riyadh: For the first time since October 2021, China’s ministry of finance issued $2 billion of dollar-denominated bonds in Saudi Arabia. Although the issuance took place in Riyadh, the bonds will be traded on the Nasdaq Dubai. The symbolic move speaks to growing economic relations between the two countries.

New Deals: At the end of October, the head of Riyadh’s Food and Drug Authority traveled to Beijing. He signed a cooperation agreement with China’s National Medical Products Administration and attended the Shenzhen Food Safety Forum during his travels. The delegation met with several Chinese organizations and institutions that deal with food and public safety, with some conversations on possible collaborative projects.

Chinese state media reported that in an exclusive interview during the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s finance minister, Mohammed Al-Jadaan, sought to strengthen cooperation with China in the green industry. During the interview, Al Jadaan referred to the Saudi-Chinese Cultural Year mentioned in October’s post. Xinhua reported that the minister said, “I think China is the envy of the world when it comes to that commitment, that execution capability, and that long-term vision, and China has been the very bright spot in the world economy, and the world recognizes this. Despite all the talks in the media about Chinese economy slowing down, it is growing at 4.8 percent. . . . It’s one of the fastest-growing economies despite all the challenges.”

On the sidelines of the Future Investment Initiative summit, Riyadh’s sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Hong Kong Monetary Authority signed an agreement to raise $1 billion for a new fund to promote foreign direct investment via Hong Kong in the manufacturing, renewables, fintech, and health-care sectors. In addition, Saudi EWPartners, an investment firm supported by PIF, agreed to invest $50 million in the Chinese company Lenovo during the summit. Building on EWPartners’ developing relationship with China, the Chinese company’s supply-chain solutions arm, Leshines, seeks to enter the Saudi-Sino special economic zone discussed in October’s post. The deal with Lenovo builds on a May 2024 agreement signed by the Chinese company and another PIF-backed company, Alat, to invest $2 billion through zero-coupon convertible bonds.

In mid-November, Saudi Aramco and China’s Sinopec Corp began construction in Zhangzhou, China, on a refinery and petrochemical complex in the Fujian Province, estimated to cost nearly $10 billion. Slated for use in 2030, the project aims to produce five million tons of petrochemical feedstock annually.

At the end of November, Shanghai Electric won a contract to build a two-gigawatt solar panel project in Saudi Arabia’s east.

Looking for Minerals: As Riyadh expands its mining industry to diversify its economy, the kingdom signed $9.32 billion in deals in late November with firms including the Chinese mining company Zijin Group. Zijin will invest more than a billion dollars over three phases: the first will construct a zinc smelter, the second will build a factory to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate, and the third will produce a copper refinery. Just a few days later, state-run China National Nuclear Corporation and Saudi Gold Refinery agreed to a joint exploration program for the mining project Talha. With site activities underway, drilling is expected to begin in March 2025.

Defense Ties: Saudi Arabia hosted a pavilion at the 2024 China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai in November that displayed military aviation products from the Gulf country. Riyadh’s participation set the stage for the kingdom to secure participation from a record one hundred Chinese defense companies when it hosts the World Defense Show in February 2026.

Press Collaboration: On a visit to Beijing in mid-November, Riyadh’s minister of media, Salman Al-Dossary, met with a host of Chinese media officials and signed new agreements and executive programs. During the trip, Chinese state-run Xinhua News Agency and Saudi state-run Saudi Press Agency (SPA) announced an initiative that Xinhua dubbed an “agreement” and SPA called a “joint cooperation program.” As reported by the Saudi side, the two agencies will work on training programs for journalists and share “expertise in editing, photography, and visual media production, as well as leveraging modern technologies and artificial intelligence in news content creation.” Saudipedia, a digital encyclopedia about the kingdom run by the state, signed an MOU with “key educational and media players,” as reported by SPA. Al-Dossary met with the minister of state council information office and toured the headquarters of People’s Daily and Xinhua News Agency, two of Beijing’s most significant state-run outlets.

On November 21, China Telecom launched its Gulf service in Riyadh. A subsidiary of the state-owned China Telecommunications Corporation, China Telecom Gulf says it will “work closely with various levels of Saudi governments, enterprises, and partners to actively participate in the development of local digital infrastructure, drive the rapid advancement of next-generation information technologies, and establish a robust bridge for cooperation between China and Saudi Arabia in the field of information technology.” China Telecom Gulf will focus on “5G, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and other fields to provide innovative, high-quality communication products and services to Saudi enterprises, institutions, and consumers.” The company’s press statement made clear that the effort falls under the Belt and Road Initiative and supports the “China-Arab Community with a Shared Future” envisioned by Chinese President Xi Jinping in a May 2024 address to Arab leaders in Beijing.

Travel: On November 1, Saudi minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb called for visa-free travel between China and the kingdom. A week later, Saudi travel company Discover Saudi partnered with Singapore-based advertising firm Heavens Portfolio to increase marketing opportunities in China. That partnership builds on Saudi Arabia’s efforts to become a hub for Chinese tourism with a target of five million Chinese tourists by 2030.

Diplomatic Partnership: At the end of October, Zhai Jun, China’s special envoy for the Middle East, traveled to Riyadh and joined representatives from ninety-four other countries, regions, and international organizations for the first meeting of the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution. According to a Chinese readout, a ceasefire in Gaza and support for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees topped the list of priorities. As noted by some analysts, China publicly discussed the need to meet Israeli security needs in a slight shift in rhetoric. However, the readout from that meeting maintained China’s traditional proclivity for the Palestinian side: “China will continue to work with the international community to make every effort to cool down the situation as soon as possible, bring the Palestinian question back on the right track of the two-State solution, and make its due contribution to an early, comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the Palestinian question.”

Meetings: According to a Saudi readout, the kingdom’s minister of Islamic affairs hosted China’s ambassador to Riyadh in early November. The two “exchanged cordial talks and discussed issues of common interest, particularly those related to Islamic work and promoting moderation and peaceful coexistence.” The same day, the Chinese ambassador met with the speaker of Saudi Arabia’s Shura Council to discuss bilateral relations.

Beijing and Riyadh’s respective vice ministers for foreign affairs chaired a second round of political consultations between the two countries. According to the Saudi Press Agency, they “discussed the development of bilateral relations and the importance of enhancing joint coordination to serve both countries' aspirations. They also addressed updates and topics of mutual interest.”

Oil Supply Going Down: Saudi crude oil supply to China was set to decrease for the second month in a row as oil trade from Saudi Arabia to China hit its lowest volume in 2024 since June.

More Teachers: After two hundred Chinese teachers were sent to Saudi Arabia in August 2024, over one hundred thousand Saudi students are now learning Mandarin in public schools. The development comes as the kingdom invests heavily in education—16 percent of the government’s 2025 spending—and focuses on emerging technologies related to AI and renewable energy.

Cultural Ties: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture hosted the second Saudi International Handicrafts Week to promote cultural exchanges, with more than five hundred participants from over twenty countries. According to state-controlled Xinhua, China’s debut exhibition featured eleven activities, “with paper cutting and sugar painting becoming a crowd favorite.”

Israel

Widespread Condemnation: In response to a question on the conflict in Lebanon, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning responded, “We oppose acts that violate Lebanon’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, oppose and condemn all moves that harm innocent civilians, and call on relevant parties to take immediate measures to ease tensions and prevent further escalation in the region.”

In remarks to the UN Security Council in mid-November, China’s ambassador to the body, Fu Cong, said, “The key to the issue is that Israel, as the occupying power, must fulfill its obligations under international law and should not be permitted to use humanitarian assistance as a bargaining chip.”

In a speech to the UN Security Council on November 18, Fu decried the humanitarian disaster and Israel’s sole responsibility for it. The ambassador then set out four points for the body to pursue: “an unconditional and immediate ceasefire,” an increase in humanitarian aid, the cessation of “unilateral actions in violation of international law,” and the revitalization of the two-state solution. A few days later, after the United States vetoed a UN Security Council resolution for a ceasefire, Fu, in an impassioned speech to the council, placed heavy blame on the United States and exclaimed, “Israel has flagrantly breached every red line of international humanitarian law, with its actions causing an unprecedented humanitarian disaster.”

In late November, when asked if China had a comment on the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, Ning commented that China welcomed the agreement, but added, “China believes that the protracted fighting in Gaza is the root cause of this round of turmoil in the Middle East.”

Security Council Ceasefire Vote: On November 20, the United States vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that called for a ceasefire in Gaza. In response, at a press conference, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian lambasted U.S. actions: “The US, for the sixth time, single-handedly used its veto power on the draft resolution on ceasefire in Gaza, which once again resulted in the stagnation of Security Council and international efforts. The international community is once again reminded of US-style double standard, and the US once again stands on the opposite side of international call for ceasefire, hope of survival for the Palestinian people, and conscience of humanity.”

Beijing Reacts to ICC Call for Netanyahu’s Arrest: The day after the UN Security Council vote, the International Criminal Court (ICC) called for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for crimes against humanity due to Israel’s actions in Gaza. When asked about the warrant, Beijing’s foreign ministry spokesperson responded, “On the question of Palestine, China always stands on the side of fairness and justice, and on the side of international law, opposes all acts that violate international law including international humanitarian law, and condemns all moves against civilians and civil facilities. . . . We hope the International Criminal Court will maintain an objective and just position, lawfully perform its duties, and interpret and apply the Rome Statute and general international law in its entirety, in good faith and in line with uniform standards.”

Iran

Oil Trade: On November 19, Bloomberg published a piece on Iranian oil sales to China. Incredibly, the report found that China purchases 90 percent of Iran’s oil exports, which makes up 10 percent of China’s crude oil imports. China uses shell companies and a “network of intermediaries” to purchase the oil, most of which is presumed to go through Malaysia. China imported over 200 percent of Malaysia’s crude oil production in 2023.

Trade Delegation Visits Beijing: In November 2024, a high-level Iranian private-sector delegation, led by the vice president of Tehran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture, visited China to expand economic ties and participate in the China International Import Exhibition. The delegation met with Chinese officials to discuss business visas, financial and banking obstacles, and possible joint investments, particularly in pharmaceutical raw materials.

Chinese Ambassador to Iran Cong Peiwu met with a senior advisor to the ayatollah, Ali Akbar Velyati, in Tehran, Iran, in the latter half of November. According to Iranian state-sponsored media, the two discussed the countries’ good relationship in the context of cultural and historical ties. The state-controlled media outlet Tehran Times noted that the Chinese side brought up the twenty-five-year agreement that would see $400 billion of Chinese investment in Iran. The October 2024 iteration of this piece discussed the lack of progress on the agreement as a potential sticking point for Iran in its meetings with Chinese officials.

Support on Nuclear: In late November, the International Atomic Energy Agency—the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog—passed a resolution that ordered Iran to enhance cooperation with the organization. Introduced by the United States, Britain, France, and Germany, the resolution was voted against by Burkina Faso, China, and Russia. China’s representative to the international body cited the need for greater diplomatic efforts rather than the pursuit of confrontation to “solve the Iranian nuclear issue.”

Ambassador’s Letter to Iran: China’s ambassador to Iran, Cong Peiwu, published an article November 30 in Tehran Times. Cong’s piece, “Jointly Building the ‘Belt and Road,’ China and Iran Stride Forward Hand in Hand,” opened with an appeal to a shared civilizational history: “Shortly after I arrived in Iran, I visited Semnan province and the ancient post station there. I deeply felt that as early as more than 2,000 years ago, China and Iran were closely connected through the ancient Silk Road.” The article promotes the BRI before it addresses the initiative’s benefits for Tehran. It notably leaves out any mention of the twenty-five-year cooperation agreement but does discuss the 2016 MOU on BRI cooperation between the two countries.

China-Iran-Saudi Arabia Statement: Deputy and vice ministers from Riyadh, Beijing, and Tehran met in Riyadh late November 2024 to advance the March 2023 agreement brokered by Beijing to normalize relations between the two Middle East countries. The joint press release reflected on progress in Iranian-Saudi relations: improved consular services as evidenced by over one hundred thousand Iranian pilgrims performing Hajj and the Umrah rituals, the establishment and first meeting of the Saudi-Iranian Joint Media Committee, and an MOU signed by the Prince Saud Al-Faisal Institute for Diplomatic Studies and the Institute of Political and International Studies of the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In addition to supporting a political solution in Yemen, the joint press release concluded with, “The three countries call for an immediate end to the Israeli military operations in both Palestine and Lebanon, condemn the Israeli attack and its violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iran, and call for ensuring the unimpeded flow of humanitarian and relief aid to Palestine and Lebanon. The three countries hold that the ongoing cycle of violence and escalation poses a serious threat to the security of the region and the world, including maritime security.” To note, the Saudi readout changed “Israeli military operations” to “Israeli aggression.”

China’s special envoy for the Middle East, Zhai Jun, and Iran’s ambassador to Beijing, Mohsen Bakhtiyar, met in the Chinese capital on November 25 to discuss escalating tensions in the Middle East. According to China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Zhai pressed the need for a diplomatic solution rather than countries falling into military conflict.

Cultural Efforts: Chinese and Iranian researchers traveled to the mountains of Masuleh, a millennia-old city in the Iran’s northeast. They made the trip as the ancient city sought World Heritage Site status.

Building on cultural exchanges reported on in October, the heads of China’s and Iran’s respective academies of arts signed an MOU to promote artistic exchanges. The agreement included elevation of the two cultures’ art and joint artistic training.

Qatar

New Deals: Building on Saudi Arabia’s China expansion in October, Qatar’s Hamad International Airport in Doha established direct flights to Shenzhen, China, in November 2024. With a total of around three hundred seats, Shenzhen Airlines operates the flights, inaugurating the Chinese company’s first destination in the Middle East.

On November 14, the Chinese investment firm Luyi Holding Group signed an agreement with Qatar Free Zones Authority to build an industrial park in Umm Alhoul, just south of Doha. The park will be designed for manufacturing and operational use for “plastic and metal products, performance materials and solar panels.”

Facilitating Talks: Chinese Ambassador to Qatar Cao Xiaolin is reported to have met with the head of the Taliban’s political office, Suhail Shaheen, who resides in the Gulf state. In an interview after the meeting, Shaheen said the two discussed the Wakhan Corridor, which connects Afghanistan to China via Xinjiang, as well as “the export of Afghanistan’s fresh fruit to China, the reconstruction of cold stores, China’s assistance in the field of medical equipment to the Ministry of Health and good neighborliness.”

Turkey

Turkish Finance Minister to Beijing: Turkey’s treasury and finance minister, Mehmet Şimşek, traveled to China in early November to attend two high-level meetings. The first, a working group meeting to discuss greater alignment between Turkey’s Middle Corridor Initiative and China’s Belt and Road Initiative—both of which seek to enhance trade links from China to Europe.

Şimşek will also cochair in the second iteration of the Türkiye-China Intergovernmental Cooperation Committee (HIK) meeting. The HIK serves as the countries’ highest-level dialogue to discuss cooperation across multiple industries and sectors. During the session, Şimşek discussed the historical ties between the two countries and stressed the importance of increased investments between the two countries as Turkey positions itself as a hub for international investment. China’s vice premier, Zhang Guoqing, who cochaired the meeting, echoed the Turkish minister’s points and emphasized the countries’ shared perspectives on the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine.

On his last day in Beijing, Şimşek met with China’s minister of finance, Lan Fo’an. He was also reported to have scheduled meetings with leaders of the Bank of China, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China to discuss new partnerships and enhanced economic ties.

Cooperation Abroad: Toward the middle of the month, Chinese company Shanghai Electric Power and Turkish firm YEO Technology agreed to cooperate to build two solar power plants in Romania valued at nearly $70 million.

Ankara in BRICS: After Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended the October BRICS summit in Russia, Turkey’s trade minister, Omer Bolar, said in a mid-November interview that Turkey has been offered partner status to the multinational body. That offer came as Turkey, a NATO member, continued its attempt to balance its global ties.

Xi Enjoys Casablanca: After his travel to Brazil for the Group of Twenty summit, Xi stopped in Casablanca, Morocco, before going home. Upon his arrival, Xi was welcomed by Morocco’s crown prince, Moulay El Hassan, and Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch. Per the Chinese readout, Xi held a “cordial” conversation with the crown prince and “called on the two countries to expand cultural and people-to-people exchanges to enhance public support for bilateral friendship and push for greater development of the China-Morocco strategic partnership.” The visit falls in line with Beijing’s greater efforts to bolster ties with developing countries. It also builds on a deal between a Chinese and Moroccan firm to establish Morocco’s first gigafactory.