Follow CGSP on Social Media

Listen to the CGSP Podcast

Xi Arrives in Saudi Arabia

by Cobus van Staden
Chinese president Xi Jinping greeted by Saudi Arabian officials upon his arrival in Riyadh on November 7, 2022. Image via Xinhua.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has arrived in Saudi Arabia. His time there will be taken up by bilateral meetings and regional summits with leaders from across the Middle East and North Africa.

So far, the press coverage has mostly focused on the pageantry of the arrival, which saw a twenty-one-gun salute and squadrons of fighter planes spraying smoke in the colors of the Saudi and Chinese flags. China’s press celebrated Xi being received ‘with the highest courtesy,’ but so far, there hasn’t been much discussion of what will be on the agenda. 

Lead the Conversation on China

Subscribe Today to Get Full Access to The China-Global South Project

Check Out Everything You'll Get With Your Subscription

The China-Global South Daily Brief delivered to your inbox at 6AM Washington time

Full access to exclusive news and analysis from editors based in the Global South

Transcripts of CGSP’s twice-weekly podcasts

Students and teachers with a valid .edu email address are eligible for a 50% discount off monthly or yearly subscriptions. Email us to receive a discount code.

You Might Like

Understanding Chinese Influence

By Lukas Fiala Xi Jinping’s current trip to Saudi Arabia has been accompanied by the usual framing of great power competition between the U.S. and China. The story in many of this week’s newspapers ...

The China-Mediterranean Observer: Iranian, Saudi Commentators Reflect on What’s Next for China’s Role in the Region

In April, news outlets throughout the wider Mediterranean region continued to discuss the “Beijing Agreement”, the recent China-brokered deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran to reestablish official diplomatic relations. Interest in the agreement remained ...

Is Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Absence from the G20 a Sign of a Broader Trend?

Speculation about why President Xi Jinping decided to sit out the G20 summit for the first time since taking power has been rife. The reason could be anything from skipping awkward meetings with ...

What is The China-Global South Project?

Independent

The China-Global South Project is passionately independent, non-partisan and does not advocate for any country, company or culture.

News

A carefully curated selection of the day’s most important China-Global South stories. Updated 24 hours a day by human editors. No bots, no algorithms.

Analysis

Diverse, often unconventional insights from scholars, analysts, journalists and a variety of stakeholders in the China-Global South discourse.

Networking

A unique professional network of China-Africa scholars, analysts, journalists and other practioners from around the world.