Doha News | China strengthened diplomatic and economic ties in the Gulf

Wang described relations between Beijing and the Gulf as being at their strongest in decades, driven by energy trade, investment agreements and political dialogue.

Henry Huiyao Wang, Founder and President of the Centre for China and Globalization, says China is positioning itself as a growing diplomatic and economic force across the Middle East, supported by stronger ties with Gulf states and shifting dynamics in China-U.S. relations.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Doha News on the sidelines of the Doha Forum 2025, Wang said recent developments suggest a more stable period between Washington and Beijing.

“And I think China-U.S. relation is actually more on the track because this 2025 strategic report is better than the report issued by [U.S. President Donald] Trump in 2017 which they would, you know, recognise China as a near peer but also they didn’t mention about strategic rivalry that they did in the 2017 report.”

Wang stated that China’s growing presence in the Gulf reflects long-term economic and political trends shaping the region. “I think that China can really play a lot of role with the Gulf countries, and the Arab world.”

He noted that Beijing is now a central commercial partner across the Gulf with “China’s largest trading partner with all of them”.

Wang spoke about China’s active growth in regional diplomacy.

“China actually has clinched agreements between Saudis and Iranians,” he said, referencing the Beijing-brokered rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran in 2023, restoring diplomatic ties after a four-year hiatus of bitter rivalry that had destabilised several Middle Eastern countries, including Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen and Bahrain.

Speaking to Doha News, Wang added that China has engaged directly with Palestinian groups, reflecting Beijing’s attempts to broaden its mediation role.

“China got 14 Palestinian factions in Beijing to declare a Palestine declaration.”

The Beijing Declaration on Ending Division and Strengthening Palestinian National Unity, commonly known as the Beijing Declaration, is an agreement signed on 23 July 2024 by 14 different Palestinian factions, including Fatah and Hamas, as part of the reconciliation process between the two factions.

Speaking about relations between Beijing and the Gulf, Wang described it as being at their strongest in decades, driven by energy trade, investment agreements and political dialogue. “And so, China is the largest trading partner with all the GCC countries and also China has excellent relations with Qatar.”

China’s expanding presence in the region featured in several discussions at this year’s Doha Forum, held under the patronage of Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and focused on the theme ‘Justice in Action: Beyond Promises to Progress’.

From Doha News， 2025-12-8