BEIJING: China and Saudi Arabia signed agreements potentially worth tens of billions of dollars on Thursday, Beijing said, as President Xi Jinping welcomed Saudi King Salman on a state visit. The visit by the 81-year-old king comes as China pursues a charm offensive towards the Middle East, where it has previously kept a low profile. King Salman arrived Wednesday with a reportedly massive entourage of around 1,000 people following stops in Japan, Malaysia and Indonesia as part of a month-long Asia tour. China is pivoting towards the Middle East, and Saudi Arabia is strengthening its alliances in east Asia, as the United States’ global diplomatic stance under President Donald Trump remains unclear. A new approachChina depends on the volatile Middle East for oil supplies but has long taken a back seat in its disputes.

Source: Manila Times March 16, 2017 10:18 UTC