China's Push for the Resumption of Diplomatic Relations between Saudi and Iran Sets a Good Example for Resolving Conflicts through Dialogue and Consultation -- "Tide of Reconciliation" Emerges in the Middle East (International Perspective)

Source: People's Daily

Saudi Arabia and Iran resumed diplomatic relations, the Syrian foreign minister visited Saudi Arabia for the first time in 12 years, there were positive developments in the peace process in Yemen, Qatar and Bahrain decided to resume diplomatic relations, Turkey and Egypt improved bilateral relations... Recently, the long-standing tension in the Middle East has shown a continuous momentum of easing, and many countries are moving towards reconciliation. Analysts pointed out that under the promotion of China and other international positive forces, the pattern of the Middle East is undergoing profound adjustment, and seeking peace, seeking development and promoting unity have become the general consensus of countries in the region.

Bilateral relations have successively achieved "ice-breaking"

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Anani Kanani said April 17 that Iranian President Raisi and Saudi Arabia's King Salman have invited each other to visit their respective countries. Iranian Foreign Minister Abdollahian and Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal have also exchanged invitations to visit, and the exchange of visits between officials at all levels of the two countries will be carried out after the completion of necessary planning, and the two countries are also promoting the implementation of cooperation agreements in the fields of economy and trade, culture, sports, and security.

With the support of the Chinese side, representatives of Saudi Arabia and Iran held a dialogue in Beijing in March this year. China and Saudi Arabia signed and issued a joint statement, announcing that the two sides agreed to restore diplomatic relations and stressing that the three sides will work together to uphold the basic norms of international relations and promote international and regional peace and security. On April 6, the foreign ministers of the two countries met in Beijing, and in the presence of the Chinese side, the two sides signed a joint statement announcing the resumption of diplomatic relations with immediate effect.

According to the UAE's Gulf Times, the foreign ministries of Qatar and Bahrain announced on the evening of April 12 that the two countries have agreed to formally restore diplomatic relations. This is the latest development in repairing relations within the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) since Qatar was collectively severed diplomatic relations with neighboring Arab states in 2017. Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the resumption of diplomatic relations between the two countries is based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, which is conducive to developing bilateral relations and enhancing the unity and cooperation of Gulf countries. The reconciliation of relations between Qatar and Bahrain was achieved against the backdrop of efforts by regional countries to promote the settlement of disputes.

Turkey's relations with Egypt also continue to improve. In March, Turkish Foreign Minister Cavusoglu visited Egypt, becoming the first Turkish foreign minister to visit Egypt in more than 10 years. On April 13, the foreign ministers of the two countries met again in Ankara, the capital of Turkey, and agreed to improve bilateral relations and restore diplomatic relations between the two countries to the ambassadorial level.

The Middle East media and international public opinion generally believe that under China's active mediation, the two countries have continuously taken new steps on the road of easing relations, which is of great significance to strengthening regional unity and cooperation and easing regional tensions, and has set a good example in resolving contradictions through dialogue and consultation.

"Normalizing relations between countries in the region is the key to maintaining long-term peace and prosperity in the Middle East." Abtesam Kebi, chairman of the UAE Policy Center, told this reporter that China's active mediation of the resumption of diplomatic relations between Saudi and Iraq has strongly demonstrated China's responsibility. Arab countries have become more aware of the importance of resolving regional hotspot issues through dialogue and political means, and believe that diplomatic contacts and cooperation are conducive to promoting the continuous development of the process of regional reconciliation.

Regional hotspot issues are gradually cooling down

"The normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran demonstrates a pragmatic approach that transcends their differences and is significant for the volatile Middle East." Jordanian political analyst Osama Sharif told this reporter that the improvement of Shah-Iran relations has opened the way for regional relations to ease, which is conducive to promoting the cooling of Middle East hotspot issues such as Yemen, Syria and Libya and gradually achieving peaceful settlement, and playing a constructive role in maintaining peace and stability in the Middle East.

At present, the political process in Yemen is maintaining good momentum. Since April 14, the Yemeni government, the multinational coalition led by Saudi Arabia, and the Houthis have conducted a three-day large-scale prisoner exchange operation, releasing more than 880 prisoners of war. On April 6, senior Yemeni government officials met with Saudi Defense Minister Khaled bin Salman in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to discuss a road map for the full restoration of peace in Yemen and discuss possible options for forming a coalition government that includes the Houthis. On the 9th, senior Houthi armed officials Mehdi Al Massat met with the Saudi delegation led by Saudi Ambassador to Yemen Mohammed Jaber in Sana'a, the capital of Yemen, and the two sides discussed issues such as the renewal of the ceasefire agreement that expires in October 2022. Speaking at a briefing to the Security Council, the UN Secretary-General's special envoy for Yemen, Grundberg, said Yemen was at a "critical juncture" to end its eight-year civil war.

Syria's relations with a number of Arab countries have also made new progress. On April 12, Syrian Foreign Minister Meqdad arrived in the western Saudi port city of Jeddah to visit Saudi Arabia and meet with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal. This is the first visit by a Syrian foreign minister to Saudi Arabia since the outbreak of the Syrian crisis in 2011. On the 18th, Faisal visited Syria, and Syrian President Bashar Bashar met with Faisal in the capital Damascus. Bashar said the "good relationship" between Syria and Saudi Arabia was "the natural state it should be" and that the relationship "not only serves the interests of both countries, but also reflects the interests of Arab countries and regions." During the meeting, Faisal said Saudi Arabia supports the maintenance of Syria's territorial integrity, security and stability, and supports "the return to normal relations between Syria and brotherly Arab countries."

The six GCC states, as well as the foreign ministers of Egypt, Iraq and Jordan, met April 14 in the Saudi city of Jeddah to reach consensus on the Syrian crisis, stressing "the importance of the Arab world's leadership in efforts to end the crisis" and agreeing to intensify consultations to ensure the success of these efforts.

Osama believes that the Syrian crisis is protracted, more and more Arab countries realize that some Western countries' attempts to change the Syrian regime have reached a dead end, and the time has come to find a political solution, and all parties need to work together to help Syria get rid of isolation and division.

The Global Security Initiative is credible and viable

Analysts in the Middle East generally pointed out that in the face of challenges such as the new crown epidemic, the Ukraine crisis, and the Federal Reserve's aggressive interest rate hikes, seeking peace, seeking development and promoting unity have become the general consensus of countries in the region. As Saudi international expert Abdul Aziz al-Shabani said, the fundamental reason for the resumption of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran and other reconciliation progress in the Middle East is that the pursuit of peace and development has become the consensus of most countries in the region. The desire for development of all countries has made the creation of a peaceful and stable environment a top priority in the region, and the diplomatic and strategic autonomy of all countries is constantly increasing.

China has actively implemented the Global Security Initiative, successfully mediated the reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran, and played a constructive role in promoting peace and stability in the Middle East, winning widespread praise from the international community. Salkis Kasaryan, political affairs editor of Lebanon's "Dayday", told this reporter that China's promotion of the improvement of bilateral relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran has effectively eased tensions in the Middle East, contributed important forces to regional and world peace and security, and let the world see that the global security initiative is not only credible, but also feasible. China is committed to playing a constructive role in the Middle East, which is not only conducive to maintaining peace and security in the Middle East, but also enables the people of the Middle East region, which have experienced turmoil, to further understand the profound connotation of the Global Security Initiative.

Tang Zhichao, a researcher at the Institute of West Asia and Africa Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, believes that the recent "tide of reconciliation" in the Middle East is the result of multiple effects of the international and regional situation. Countries in the region are increasingly aware that conflicts and confrontations are detrimental to regional stability, seriously affect their own development and transformation, and trigger interference by external forces. As a neutral, impartial and friendly third party, China has played a very important role in persuading peace and promoting talks, and is a promoter of security and stability in the Middle East, a partner in development and prosperity, and a promoter of unity and self-improvement. China's successful mediation of the Shai-Iran conflict is a vivid practice of China's implementation of the global security initiative and the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind, and has effectively promoted peace and stability in the Middle East.

"China has always adhered to fairness and justice on the Middle East issue, supported regional countries in resolving regional security issues through negotiation and consultation, and did not mix their own selfish interests, and won the recognition, support and positive response of regional countries." Su Xiaohui, deputy director of the Institute of American Studies at the China Institute of International Studies, told this reporter that "pulling one faction and fighting another", "divide and rule" and "camp confrontation" have never been the correct way to deal with security issues, and adhering to the common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security concept, taking the building of a security community as the long-term goal, resolving contradictions through development and eliminating the soil of insecurity is the correct way to solve the Middle East issue. "The resumption of diplomatic relations between China and Iran has attracted the attention and positive response of the international community, and more and more countries are more convinced that China's global security initiative is a good recipe for resolving international disputes."