Saudi Arabia and Iran Committed to Beijing Agreement
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Roshan Amiri
- . December 16, 2023
- . Update: December 16, 2023 12:24 pm
China reviewed the relationship between Saudi Arabia and Iran for the first time since the Beijing Agreement was brokered in March 2023. This agreement is being touted as equivalent to the US-led Abraham Accords to strengthen peace in the Middle East.
Saudi Arabia and Iran had paused relations in 2016 because of the conflicts in Yemen and Syria where they were on the opposite sides. They resumed diplomatic relations after seven years of tensions and several rounds of dialogue in 2021 and 2022 in Iraq and Oman.
At the first meeting of the Saudi-Chinese-Iranian tripartite committee on Friday, in Beijing, they discussed the reopening of the two countries’ embassies in Riyadh and Tehran, meetings and mutual visits of the foreign ministers of the two countries. Saudi Arabia and Iran affirmed their total commitment to implementing the Beijing Agreement.
The Beijing Agreement
This agreement was made possible given China and Saudi Arabia’s shared understanding of rules-based international order and of international security. The Beijing Agreement is based on the principles of conflict resolution between two states. It reiterates recurrent Saudi and Chinese attachment to norms such as non-intervention in the domestic affairs of nations that have been constant pillars of the Sino-Saudi partnership since 2006.
Saudi Arabia had put forth preconditions that any talks with Iran would move forward if Tehran left Yemen to Yemenis. Riyadh saw Iran’s support for the Houthis as a main obstacle to any de-escalation. But China was able to thaw the kingdom and Tehran’s positions and helped broker a compromise, restoring diplomatic relations between the two Gulf nations.
Chinese negotiations, as per Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, got Saudi Arabia and Iran to a two-month grace period to show goodwill before the restoration of diplomatic relations went into effect. Moreover, the Chinese-led Saudi-Iran peace deal coincides with President Xi Jinping’s third term – this symbolically and significantly reaffirms Xi’s supreme leadership.
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Positive Saudi Arabia, Iran Relations
Chinese officials at the tripartite committee commended Saudi Arabia and Iran and expressed their readiness to continue playing a constructive role and supporting the two countries in taking further steps towards strengthening their relations.
This engagement reflects China’s role as a promoter of security and stability in the Middle East, a partner of development and prosperity, as well as a promoter of unity and self-improvement.
