China-Arab strategic cooperation boosts modernization of Arab States

Document Type : Short Paper

Authors

1 School of Law and Public Administration, Hebei Normal University, Shi jia Zhuang, China.

2 Faculty of Political Science and Foreign Studies, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, China.

Abstract

In the recent past, the focus of the Arab nations toward the East has led to a more pronounced strategic cooperation with China. In contrast to prior initiatives taken by Arab nations to mitigate the effects of economic dependence, the West has, more recently, sought to influence the political climate within Arab nations. China has been a target revisionist state to the development narrative of the West. Western dominance that seeks to control economic and political influence within the Arab world through means that are highly charged politically has the potential to be mitigated with China-initiated projects. BRI has sought to politically create avenues for cooperation that transcend mere economic integration, through collaborative governance frameworks within the energy, technology, and infrastructure sectors. In addition to the development of a politically stable and secure environment geared toward the advancement of industry, the collaboration also fosters economic resilience. The potential offered by the partnership to serve as a case study in sustainable development for the global South in addition to practical models grounded in Arab realities is profound. The qualitative research drew on inductive reasoning focusing on three primary themes such economic diversification, governance of security, and strategic alignment.

Keywords

Main Subjects


حوزة موضوعی: کشورهای عربی و چین

Scope: Arab States and China

CFR: Council on Foreign Relations. (2025). “China in the Middle East”. https://www.cfr.org/article/china-middle-east-february-2025.
Chen D. (2021). “China’s BRI and Saudi Vision 2030: A review to partnership for sustainability”. King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center. https://doi.org/10.30573/ks--2021-dp016.
CIDCA: China International Development Cooperation Agency. (2025). “China voices support for Arab nations' unity, development-premier. July 9. http://en.cidca.gov.cn/2025-07/10/c_1108374.htm.
Daher, M. (2021). “China’s sustainable development model and how Arabs benefit from it. Chinese and Arab Studies. 1(1): 68-80. https://doi.org/10.1515/caas-2021-2007.
Elshehaby H. (2025). “China in MENA’s strategic security calculus: China is playing an important role in the region’s pursuit of security diversification, but its avoidance of security guarantees limits Beijing’s role”. The Diplomat. https://thediplomat.com/2025/08/china-in-menas-strategic-security-calculus/.
Feigenbaum EA. (2025). “How China aligned itself with Saudi Arabia's vision 2030”. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. https://carnegieendowment.org/posts/2025/01/how-china-aligned-itself-with-saudi-arabias-vision-2030?lang=en.
GIS Reports Online. (2022). “The progressing modernization in the Arab States”. https://www.gisreportsonline.com/r/arab-states-modernization/.
The Institute for Peace and Diplomacy. (2025). “China’s expanding influence in the Middle East and North Africa”. https://peacediplomacy.org/2025/02/24/chinas-expanding-influence-in-the-middle-east-and-north-africa/.
Kader S. (2025). “China’s BRI investments hit $124bln In H1 2025, with Middle East in strategic focus”. Zawya. https://www.zawya.com/en/projects/construction/chinas-bri-investments-hit-124bln-in-h1-2025-with-middle-east-in-strategic-focus-i03pn96l.
Kumar P. (2025). “China-Arab trade worth $407bn in 2024”. Arabian Gulf Business Insight. https://www.agbi.com/trade/2025/08/china-arab-trade-worth-407bn-in-2024/.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China. (2025). The Fifth China-Arab States Forum on Reform and Development held in Shanghai. http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/wjb/zzjg_663340/xybfs_663590/xwlb_663592/202504/t20250422_11601470.html.
Nedopil C. (2025). “Countries of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)”. Green Finance & Development Center. Shanghai, FISF Fudan University. https://greenfdc.org/countries-of-the-belt-and-road-initiative-bri/.
People’s Daily. (2023). “Walking hand in hand on the path of modernization – Keynote Speech at the CPC-World Political Parties Summit”. March 16.
---------------. (2018). “Jointly Create a Bright Future for China-Arab Relations". On Building a Human Community with a Shared Future, p. 334.
People's Daily Online. (2025). “Saudi-Chinese Cooperation Enters More Mature Stage -- Saudi Experts”. https://en.people.cn/n3/2025/1009/c90000-20374634.html.
Tagharobi K, Zarei A. (2016). “Modernism in the Middle East and Arab world”. Routledge Encyclopedia of Modernism. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781135000356-REMO14-1.
Wang D. (2023). “Carry forward the spirit of China-Arab friendship, implement the outcomes of the China-Arab States summit, and make all-out efforts to build a China-Arab community with a shared future in the new era. Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs. https://www.cpifa.org/en/cms/book/379.