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　　China’s first major diplomatic event of 2016 saw President Xi Jinping visiting Saudi Arabia， Egypt and Iran on January 19-23， including a series of diplomatic activities at the Headquarters of the Arab League (AL) in Cairo on January 21. The visit shows the role China intends to play in the Middle East， with the goal of promoting friendship， cooperation and common development.

　　Each of the three countries that hosted Xi is influential in the Middle East and boasts time-honored friendships with China. China too has always attached great importance to its relations with the three countries and the region as a whole. Moreover， under the China-proposed initiative of building the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road (Belt and Road Initiative)， the region is of crucial importance as a link between China and Europe and Africa.

　　Xi’s Middle East trip successfully elevated bilateral relations. For instance， China established a comprehensive strategic partnership with Saudi Arabia as well as a high-level committee to guide and coordinate bilateral cooperation. China and Egypt published a guideline for strengthening their existing comprehensive strategic partnership over the next five years at a time when diplomatic relations between the two entered the 60th year.

　　Xi also put forward proposals for deepening comprehensive cooperation with Iran. Xi was the first foreign head of state to visit Iran after international sanctions against the country were lifted， therefore， the move was of particular symbolic significance.

　　In addition to consolidating bilateral relations， China has boosted economic cooperation with the three countries in a bid to realize common development. The three countries all agreed to support and participate in the Belt and Road Initiative and respectively signed memorandums of understanding to do so. Moreover， China signed 52 cooperative agreements with the three nations， which cover areas of climate change， economy and trade， energy， finance， telecommunications and more. The scope and depth of cooperation between China and these Middle Eastern countries have been greatly expanded.

　　Xi highlighted China’s policy in the Middle East in his speech at the AL Headquarters， saying， “We should be builders of peace， promoters of development， boosters of industrialization， supporters of stability and partners of people-to-people exchanges in the Middle East.”

　　It is clear from Xi’s statement that China’s Middle East policy will be focused on peace and development， and hopefully，will provide tangible opportunities to realize this shared dream.

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