Everyone in the Middle East is flocking to Beijing to seek its political blessings.

Wooing the Saudis

The most significant development in China’s Middle East policy, however, lies in its new strategic enthusiasm for Saudi Arabia. Within weeks of the first ever visit by a Saudi monarch to China, by King Abdullah in January 2006, Chinese President Hu Jintao showed up in Riyadh for a return visit.

Since then, Sino-Saudi relations have galloped. As the crisis in the Gulf deepens, and Iran’s confrontation with the US approaches, Beijing has bet that Saudi Arabia holds the key to its long-term interests in the region.

King Abdullah was also the chief guest at India’s Republic Day celebrations last January. We have not heard or seen any substantive Indian initiative towards Saudi Arabia since then.