Xi Warns Against Middle East Great-Power Rivalry

On Nov. 2, 2026, Xi Jinping and Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said reviewed an honour guard and held bilateral talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Xi said, "The Middle East Gulf region should not become an arena for great-power rivalry and geopolitical conflict. Peace and stability in the region require joint nurturing and protection by all parties." The visit was the first by an Omani head of state since diplomatic relations were established in 1978. People's Bank of China governor Pan Gongsheng welcomed Haitham on the tarmac. The sides issued a 20-point joint statement calling for resumption of safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and urging the United States and Iran to pursue peaceful options, return to a June agreement and restart dialogue. At least 14 agreements, MOUs and cooperation protocols were signed. China is Oman's largest trading partner, with bilateral trade at $36.73 billion in 2024 and direct investments by Chinese companies with the Oman Investment Authority exceeding 33 billion yuan, about $4.6 billion. Haitham said, "We believe that development and stability are inextricably linked," and that prosperity requires security, peace, respect for state sovereignty, international law and peaceful dispute resolution. He said a preferential trade and investment deal "would open new avenues for trade and investment." China's special envoy Zhai Jun is to visit Iran, Oman and Saudi Arabia this month. Omani ministers Badr Al Busaidi and Said Al Maawali met Chinese company representatives on transport, logistics, AI and drone-based air transport. Direct flights between Beijing and Muscat have operated since November. CONTESTED: none found.