China News Service, March 12 (Reporter He Luman) Seven years after the severance of diplomatic relations, the Middle East countries Saudi Arabia and Iran, under the mediation of China, agreed to restore diplomatic relations and reopen their embassies.

　　"This is a very important achievement of China's diplomacy after the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China." Dong Manyuan, a researcher at the China Institute of International Studies, and Li Shaoxian, dean of the China Institute of Arab States at Ningxia University, said in an interview with a reporter from Chinanews.com , China has shown wisdom and responsibility through diplomatic negotiations to mediate and promote peace. China's diplomacy after the 20th National Congress is very worth looking forward to.

Image source: Website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China

balance, trust, mutual benefit

Saudi, Iran resume ties after seven years

　　On March 10, China, Saudi Arabia and Iran issued a tripartite joint statement in Beijing. The three countries announced that Saudi Arabia and Iran had reached an agreement, including agreeing to restore diplomatic relations between the two sides, reopening embassies and representative offices of both sides within at most two months, and arranging Exchange ambassadors and explore ways to strengthen bilateral relations.

　　"It's very positive news," Anna Jacobs, senior Gulf analyst at the International Crisis Group, told CNBC.

　　She believes the development shows that Saudi Arabia and Iran have had "enough conversations" to be successful years later.

The two sides "began to take some serious confidence-building steps and agreed on a roadmap for the restoration of full diplomatic relations".

　　After seven years of breaking off diplomatic relations, why are these two Middle Eastern countries willing to change their attitudes and settle their suspicions?

　　Dong Manyuan believes that this has something to do with the expansion of Saudi Arabia's strategic autonomy to seek to realize the "2030 Vision".

　　This vision will play an important role in the future development of Saudi Arabia. Therefore, Saudi Arabia has carried out diversified and balanced diplomacy, including the development of comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Saudi Arabia, and cooperation with Russia. supply and demand relationship.

"The easing of relations with Iran now means that Saudi Arabia wants to improve its development environment." Dong Manyuan said.

An aerial view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

(Data map)

　　Looking east is an important manifestation of Saudi Arabia's diversified and balanced diplomacy.

Dong Manyuan pointed out that in the entire world economic map, Asia is still the most dynamic region, and some dynamic economies in the world are basically in Asia, that is, in the direction of East Asia.

　　Li Shaoxian believes that this is the common need of the interests of both parties.

He pointed out that after the current U.S. President Biden took office, he has significantly adjusted the Trump administration's policy of extreme pressure and comprehensive blockade on Iran.

Continuing to confront Iran is not in the national interest of Saudi Arabia, so policy adjustment is imperative.

Iran is currently in a state of isolation, and it is also in its interest to ease diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia.

　　In addition, this achievement is inseparable from the active promotion of China.

"After long-term negotiations, the resumption of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran can be said to be a matter of course to a certain extent, but it is short of a goal and cannot be kicked in. So I came to Beijing. With China's strong promotion, the two sides sent the ball in." Li Shaoxian said .

reconciliation, hope, example

Regional security environment releases signal of improvement

　　Throughout the past half century, the historical entanglement between Saudi Arabia and Iran is inseparable from the superposition of multiple factors such as geopolitics, religious issues, and economic issues.

　　Dong Manyuan analyzed that the conflict between Saudi Arabia and Iran boils down to two points: one is "who can lead the development direction of the Middle East"; the other is "who can lead the progress of the Islamic world?" The contradictions need to be gradually resolved through long-term efforts.

　　Li Shaoxian pointed out that the relationship between Saudi Arabia and Iran has been full of contradictions in the historical process, but the two sides have come to a state of hostility, and the United States is indispensable behind it.

Therefore, if the two sides talk about improving relations, they need to eliminate the interference of external forces.

　　Restoring diplomatic relations is only the first step, but it is this step that is crucial.

Li Shaoxian said that after Saudi-Iraq relations are normalized, we will go back to the relevant agreements signed in 2001 and 1998, and carry out trade, anti-terrorism, anti-drug smuggling, money laundering, etc. on the basis of common interests, and expand the areas of cooperation between the two sides.

　　In Dong Manyuan’s view, the resumption of diplomatic relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia not only alleviates the conflicts between the two countries, but also helps to ease the conflicts between the United States and Iran to a certain extent, and helps to reactivate the Iranian nuclear issue, which is currently facing serious obstacles. performance negotiations.

"This is the latest development in the regional situation, which has promoted regional stability and peace."

　　In addition, it helps countries in the region realize their strategic vision for development.

After experiencing the rise in global energy and food prices caused by the Ukraine crisis and the impact of the new crown epidemic on the economy, the restoration of diplomatic relations between the two sides is also conducive to the recovery of their own economies.

Data map: News on April 16, 2015, Saudi coalition tanks attacked Yemeni Houthi armed strongholds.

　　Li Shaoxian believes that the improvement of relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran will have three impacts on the situation in the Middle East:

　　One is to bring hope to the peace and stability of the Gulf region.

The Middle East is a region with fierce and turbulent situation, and there are persistent diseases between countries, among which Saudi Arabia and Iran are the most serious contradictions.

The easing of relations between the two countries will give hope for peace and stability in the Gulf region, which is of great significance.

　　The second is to set an example for the Middle East.

"The degree of difficulty for improving relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran is nine stars, and the contradictory relationship with the degree of difficulty of nine stars can be reconciled. This will help resolve other conflicts in the Middle East, such as the Palestine-Israel conflict, the Syrian crisis, and the civil war in Yemen. A role model." Li Shaoxian said.

　　Third, the people of the Middle East have taken an important step in controlling their own destiny.

Li Shaoxian pointed out, "For a long time, historical practice has clearly shown that the reason why the Middle East has become a hot spot among world hotspots and turbulent is the intervention of external forces. In fact, in recent decades, it has been the intervention of the United States, the Iraq war, and the Syrian war. , the Libyan war, etc., everyone sees it very clearly. Therefore, if the Middle East wants to achieve stability, it must control its own destiny."

Data map: UN Secretary-General Guterres.

Photo by China News Agency reporter Yu Ruidong

Patience, Wisdom, Responsibility

"Messengers of Peace" China contributes

　　United Nations Secretary-General Guterres issued a statement through his spokesperson on the 10th, welcoming the agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran and agreeing to resume diplomatic relations between the two sides, and expressing gratitude to China for facilitating the dialogue.

　　Li Shaoxian pointed out that China has vigorously promoted the reconciliation between Iran and Saudi Arabia and the resumption of diplomatic relations, showing China's patience, wisdom and responsibility.

This also indicates that China's diplomacy after the 20th National Congress is "very worth looking forward to."

He believes that China has explained its constructive role in the world with facts and actions.

　　Dong Manyuan also believes, "This is a very important achievement of China's diplomacy after the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. It is a new achievement of major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in the Middle East under the guidance of Xi Jinping's diplomatic thought, and it is also proposed by China. A very convincing classic case of a global security initiative taking root in the Middle East."

　　He pointed out that China has always been a defender of peace in the Middle East, a contributor to the development of the Middle East, and a promoter of exchanges and mutual construction. This time, China has contributed public goods to the stability of the Middle East, enabling Middle East countries to gain more security. And based on this sense of security, to expand its strategic autonomy.

The role played by China has enhanced the "ownership awareness" of the Middle East countries and contributed to the relaxation of regional tensions.

　　In addition, Dong Manyuan believes that China's active participation in mediation this time finally led to the agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia to resume diplomatic relations, which also fully proves that the use of diplomatic negotiations can reconcile countries with deep conflicts and mutual distrust, and relieve tensions in the region. Cool down, which is of great significance for resolving wars through diplomatic means.

"The security of countries in the region does not need to rely on the so-called security protection provided by individual major powers, such as unilateralists and hegemonists. This will further promote the strategic autonomy of regional countries and take their security destiny into their own hands."

　　Dong Manyuan analyzed that the relationship between China and the Middle East countries is accelerating into the process of "quantity and quality change".

From quantitative changes in the security field, quantitative changes in the economic field, quantitative changes in the humanities field, and finally to the substantive qualitative changes in the relationship between China and the Middle East countries.

"This qualitative change means that regional countries can eliminate the interference of hegemonism and unilateralism, and form a community of destiny with us." (End)