On 11 March 2018, Al Jazeera Centre for Studies hosted the Deputy General Director of the Bureau of West Asia and North Africa of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and his delegation. Their visit was part of a Gulf tour in which they also visited Saudi Arabia to meet with experts and researchers specialised in Gulf and Middle East affairs and listen to their readings and analyses of the issues of the region.
The Chinese delegation and AJCS researchers discussed various issues including Trump’s strategy toward the Middle East and the likelihood that the “deal of the century” will succeed in addition to its impact on the Palestinian cause.
The attendees exchanged their views on the upcoming Camp David summit and the means of resolving the Gulf crisis. In addition, they discussed the internal and external challenges that face Saudi Arabia after Mohammed bin Salman was elevated to the position of crown prince. The two parties touched on the possibility of the return of the Arab Spring revolutions and the extent the Arab peoples learned from the mistakes they made and the experiences they underwent.
The Chinese delegation answered the questions of AJCS researchers related to amendments to the Chinese constitution during Xi Jinping’s presidential candidacy and their political impact as well as China’s vision of the regional security organisation in the Middle East.
At the end of the visit, the two parties agreed to maintain research meetings such as this one for mutual in-depth understanding between China and the Arab world.