BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke by telephone with Saudi Arabia’s King Salman on Wednesday amid tensions with Riyadh’s regional rival Iran after Tehran announced it was scaling back some commitments under its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. China has had to tread a fine line as it has close energy and business relations with both countries, in a part of the world where Beijing has traditionally exerted far less sway than the United States, Russia, France or Britain. China’s Foreign Ministry did not directly mention Iran in its statement on the call between Xi and Salman, instead concentrating on Xi’s comments on cementing bilateral ties. Xi visited Saudi Arabia and Iran on the same trip in 2016, and Salman paid a return visit to China in 2017. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met Xi in Beijing in February of this year. Xi told Salman that China set great store on developing its all-round strategic partnership with the Saudis, especially in energy cooperation, the Foreign Ministry said. “China appreciates Saudi Arabia’s active efforts to promote China-Arab relations and the development of relations between China and Islamic countries,” a short statement paraphrased Xi as saying. “China appreciates… Read full this story
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