Gulf ministers visit China to discuss strengthening energy ties

Foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain along with the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Nayef bin Falah al-Hajrah have arrived in Beijing for a five-day visit.

The visit, which started on Monday, follows a flurry of diplomatic activity by China’s foreign minister Wang Yi, including a tour of Africa as well as visits to the Maldives and Sri Lanka.

The officials are expected to discuss strengthening energy ties with Beijing.

In recent years, China has sought to bolster its ties with the Gulf states, with President Xi Jinping in 2014 aiming to more than double trade with the region by 2023.

State-owned newspaper Global Times said the visit may also “make breakthroughs” in talks over a China-GCC free-trade agreement.

The potential agreement was first tabled in 2004, with the two sides discussing in March last year the possibility of resuming negotiations.

The visit came amid turmoil in neighbouring Kazakhstan that raised concerns about China’s energy security. Beijing has long invested heavily in oil and gas-rich Kazakhstan’s energy industry.

Xi praised the Kazakhstan government’s deadly crackdown on protesters as “highly responsible” in a message to leader Kassym-Jomart Tokayev last week.

He added that Beijing was willing to “provide support” if needed, state media reported.