China: Full Steam Ahead in the Gulf?

This event is jointly organised by Political Economy and Diffusion of Ideas-Gulf Cluster of the Middle East Institute NUS, in collaboration with the Italian Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI).

Abstract

In a recent phone conversation between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, the former expressed support for the kingdom’s initiatives in climate governance and sustainable development. What is noteworthy is Beijing’s willingness to push its strategic partnership with Riyadh to a “new level”. This move comes after China’s decision to make the UAE its regional base for vaccine production, in a collaboration between Sinopharm and Abu Dhabi’s G42. Is China’s footprint in the Persian Gulf expanding beyond economics and moving into health and green initiatives adding to its array of soft power tools in the region and beyond? Will its move to chair a UN Security Council meeting on the Israel-Hamas crisis solidify ties with Gulf states?

The panel, moderated by Dr Alessandro Arduino, Principal Research Fellow from Middle East Institute (NUS), in collaboration with the Italian Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI), will tackle these and more.

This public talk was conducted online via Zoom on Tuesday, 8 June 2021, from 4.00pm to 5.30pm (SGT). Click here for more details on the event: https://mei.nus.edu.sg/event/china-full-steam-ahead-in-the-gulf/