For the UAE too, Xi's visit to Riyadh is important

Chinese President Xi Jinping, right, with Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Riyadh, this Wednesday, December 7 in the Saudi capital.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Riyadh on Wednesday December 7 for a three-day visit.

On the program in particular, a summit with the leaders of the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council, including the United Arab Emirates.

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With our regional correspondent,

It is also a strategic visit for the United Arab Emirates.

This Gulf monarchy is indeed seeking to diversify its partners so as to no longer depend on its historic ally: the United States.

With Washington, relations have deteriorated given the progressive disengagement of the Americans in the region.

So, in this context, and despite Sino-American tensions, Abu Dhabi has decided not to choose sides.

" 

," warned Emirati political science professor Abdulkhaleq Abdulla in an interview with CNN.

Since 2018 and the Chinese President's visit to the UAE capital, relations between the Emirates and China have intensified.

On this occasion, the two countries announced the establishment of a “comprehensive strategic partnership”.

Many economic agreements, including in the sensitive field of defence, have since been signed.

President Xi Jinping is staying in Saudi Arabia for three days.

Meetings are planned for him with the leaders of the region on the background of energy issues, and on the background, therefore, of rivalries between Washington and Beijing in the battle for influence in the Middle East.

►Read again: Xi Jinping in Saudi Arabia: China, a card to play "during periods of tension between Riyadh and Washington"

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• Xi Jinping

• China

• Saudi Arabia

• United Arab Emirates

• United States