China's vision of the Middle East

Xi Jinping's first visit to the Middle East since becoming China's president three years ago, reflects three emerging, defining elements in the conduct of Beijing's foreign policy in the Middle East. The basic building block of Chinese policy remains the development and expansion of economic and trade linkages. There is clear and longstanding evidence of an expanding Chinese economic presence throughout the region - from the massive energy markets of Saudi Arabia and the infrastructure developments in Iran to the tiny domination of trade with Lebanon, Xi's visit is heavily weighted in this direction, highlighted by the effort to shape an international trade and development system in China's...