Xi’s four‑point peace pitch
During a visit by Abu Dhabi’s crown prince to Beijing, Xi Jinping floated a four‑point proposal for ‘lasting peace’ in the Middle East. The proposal was presented after U.S.–Iranian talks faltered, positioning China as a diplomatic actor in the region. (indiatoday.in)
Xi Jinping used a Beijing meeting with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on April 14 to unveil a four-point plan for Middle East peace. (english.news.cn) Xi’s plan called for peaceful coexistence, respect for national sovereignty, adherence to international law, and a balance between development and security in the Gulf and wider Middle East. (english.news.cn) He presented it at the Great Hall of the People while hosting Sheikh Khaled, who was in China on an official visit that also included talks on energy, trade, technology, education, civil aviation and tourism. (mfa.gov.cn) Chinese state media said Xi also repeated that China would keep playing a “constructive role” in promoting peace talks, and framed the Gulf states as neighbors that need a shared regional security architecture. (english.www.gov.cn) The timing came days after United States-Iran talks in Islamabad ended without an agreement. United States Vice President JD Vance said on April 11 that the Iranian delegation refused American demands tied to Iran’s nuclear program after 21 hours of talks. (cnbc.com) Chinese outlets tied Xi’s pitch to a wider regional crisis that they date to February 28, when the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, followed by disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. (chinadaily.com.cn) Xi’s language also doubled as a criticism of how force has been used in the region. He said international law cannot be applied only when convenient and warned against a return to the “law of the jungle,” according to Xinhua and Reuters. (english.news.cn) (reuters.com) For Beijing, the meeting also fit a broader push to deepen ties with Gulf states through its “comprehensive strategic partnership” with the United Arab Emirates and through coordination in the United Nations and BRICS. (mfa.gov.cn) Sheikh Khaled, according to China Daily, said the United Arab Emirates commended China’s “responsible and constructive role” in international affairs and its efforts to pursue a political settlement in the Middle East. (chinadaily.com.cn) Xi’s proposal did not include a timetable, mediating format or enforcement mechanism. For now, it stands as China’s clearest public attempt this month to define what a post-crisis order in the Gulf should look like. (english.news.cn)
