China–MiddleEastRelationsbyDr.Naseral-Tamimi

Introduction

China has become a major global economic force, boasting the world's largest economy by purchasing power and second in market value to the U.S. It is expected to overtake the U.S. as the leading economic power within a decade or so. Since opening up in 1979, China's GDP has grown 68–fold, from $263.7 billion to around $18 trillion in 2022. The International Monetary Fund projects that by 2028, China's GDP will increase by $6 trillion, almost twice the present total GDP of the Middle East region. China's rapid economic growth over the past thirty years has transformed its strategic landscape, resulting in increasingly resilient relations between China and the Middle East.

China now stands as the primary buyer of the region's energy, a leading economic partner for many countries, and a key investor. Beijing's introduction of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2013 has further cemented these relationships. Almost all Middle Eastern states (including all Arab countries, Türkiye, and Iran) have joined the initiative. Meanwhile, China has upgraded its relationship status with numerous Middle Eastern states to “comprehensive strategic partnerships,” including Algeria, Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.