Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, is set to visit China this week amid growing policy differences between Riyadh and Washington over the ongoing Iran conflict.
According to a brief statement from China’s Foreign Ministry, the two-day visit will begin on Tuesday at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. However, neither Beijing nor Riyadh has disclosed the detailed agenda of the visit.
The trip comes at a critical time as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has severely disrupted Saudi oil exports, raising concerns over global energy security. Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil exporter, has been facing mounting economic pressure due to the prolonged conflict.
Geopolitical analysts say China has been working for years to strengthen its strategic and economic ties with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, including pursuing a free trade agreement. The latest visit is seen as part of Beijing’s broader efforts to expand its influence in the Middle East.
China has played an increasingly active diplomatic role in the region. In March 2023, Beijing brokered the historic reconciliation agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran, marking a significant shift in regional diplomacy.
Since the outbreak of the Iran war, Saudi Arabia has repeatedly called for de-escalation, a position that has at times clashed with US President ’s more aggressive regional strategy. Reports suggest Riyadh previously refused to allow US military operations related to “Project Freedom” to use its airspace and military bases.
The conflict and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have significantly disrupted oil supplies, pushing global crude prices higher. China remains one of Saudi Arabia’s largest oil buyers, while it is also Iran’s primary energy partner, purchasing nearly 90 percent of Iran’s oil exports.
The visit also comes amid renewed military escalation in the Gulf. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) recently launched drone and missile strikes targeting US military facilities in Kuwait and Bahrain. In response, the United States carried out retaliatory strikes on Iranian missile depots and coastal radar installations.
The rising tensions have placed recent diplomatic understandings between Tehran and Washington at risk, while regional powers continue to explore possible avenues for de-escalation.
