Xi Jinping says "wisdom and solutions" on Gulf security dilemmas

During a Beijing meeting on Monday with Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said, Chinese President Xi Jinping said the Middle East and Gulf should not turn into a venue where large countries compete or geopolitical disputes play out. Xi said China would coordinate with Arab governments, including Gulf Cooperation Council members, on regional security challenges and remained committed to halting fighting and to foster regional stability, according to China’s foreign ministry. The talks came amid heightened tensions and a conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran that has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and raised global energy and freight costs; Beijing has said it will send envoys to promote de-escalation. Haitham’s trip was the first by an Omani head of state to China since 1978, and he expressed interest in a trade-and-investment deal giving Oman preferential terms.