China’s Vice President Han Zheng addressed the UN General Assembly on Thursday. Along with retreads of established Chinese positions on Taiwan, Ukraine, and the Israel/Palestine conflict, his comments also provided interesting clues about China’s messaging to the Global South.
First, he called on the international community to “follow the direction of a multipolar world” with the UN at its center. I wonder how opinion within Beijing’s inner circles breaks down around the bipolarity/multipolarity issue, considering ...
Country: Iran
China Importing Record Volumes of Sanctioned Iranian Oil
China is importing a record amount of Iranian crude, easily circumventing U.S. sanctions expressly designed to restrict such trade, according to new findings by the data intelligence firm Kpler. Iranian oil sales to China have jumped this year from an average ...
Inside Details of China’s Oil Buys from Iran
Iran’s oil output has jumped by 80% to about 1 million barrels per day since President Ebrahim Raisi took power in 2021. China is one of the Islamic Republic’s largest oil buyers, despite formidable sanctions from the U.S. and other countries. ...
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 high as the Saudi and Iranian foreign ministers reconvened in Beijing ...
The China-Pakistan-Iran Trilateral
By Saniya Kulkarni China, Pakistan, and Iran met in Beijing last Wednesday for a first-of-its-kind trilateral consultation on security and counterterrorism efforts in the region. China and Pakistan have previously shared concerns about organizations operating across Pakistan’s northern provinces and Afghanistan such ...
Awards for Online Influencers From Global South Countries Who “Tell Good China Stories”
Chinese propaganda authorities recognized seven online content influencers from various countries around the world, including Cameroon and Iran for their contributions to "presenting a true, panoramic view of China." The awards were given on Friday at the inaugural China Storyteller ...
Analysis from Cobus van Staden
Unpacking Han Zheng’s Messaging to the Global South at the UN General Assembly
Iran-China Trade Topped $15 Billion Last Year: Report
Two-way trade between China and Iran increased by 7% last year to $15.8 billion, according to new data by Chinese customs authorities. Iranian exports to China accounted for $6.35 billion, while imports from China totaled $9.4 billion.
China Ready for Israel-Palestine Mediation: Foreign Minister
Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang on Monday spoke by phone to both his Israeli and Palestinian counterparts. This has strengthened impressions that Beijing could be considering a mediator role in one of the Middle East’s most intractable conflicts in the aftermath of its success in de-escalating similarly long-running ...
The Risks and Rewards of China’s New Mideast Diplomacy
When China announced in March that it had brokered a landmark agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore diplomatic ties, it took a lot of people by surprise. They just didn't see it coming. ...
How Important is China’s New Role as Mideast Mediator? Depends Who You Ask.
The smiles and awkward handshake among the foreign ministers from China, Saudi Arabia and Iran last week in Beijing that finalized a once-improbable reconciliation between the two Persian Gulf rivals triggered another wave of analysis by scholars around the world about the significance of China's role as ...
Saudi, Iranian Foreign Ministers Sign Deal in Beijing to Restore Diplomatic Ties, Resume Flights
The foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia and Iran made it official to fully restore diplomatic ties and resume direct flights between the once-rival countries. Iran's Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Saudi Arabia's Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud signed the follow-up statement on ...