After five consecutive days of meetings, two long-time regional rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia are set to restore diplomatic ties through China’s mediation. The two countries will open embassies in each other’s territories as a token of the renewed diplomatic ties. The three countries announced this in a joint statement in the Chinese capital, Beijing, on Friday, March 10th.
China Daily reported that Wang Yi, the director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission of the Chinese Communist Party (CPC), mediated between Iran and Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi Arabian delegation was led by the Saudi national security adviser Musaad bin Mohammed al-Aiban, whereas the Iranian delegation was led by Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran.
Wang said that the dialogue in Beijing opened a new chapter in the relationship between Iran and Saudi Arabia. He said that China would help both sides take robust action based on their agreements and use patience and wisdom to jointly work towards a better future.
He also added that the improvement in relations between Riyadh and Tehran opened the path for peace and stability in the Middle East and set a paradigm for countries to use dialogue to resolve their conflicts and differences.
Furthermore, Wang reiterated Beijing’s commitment to supporting the strategic autonomy of Middle Eastern countries. Not only that he also encouraged them to build solidarity and coordination, and take their future into their own hands staying away from foreign interference.
As a part of the agreement, Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to organise meetings between their respective foreign ministers, send ambassadors to each other and explore paths to consolidate their bilateral ties.
Iran and Saudi Arabia also agreed to reactivate the security cooperation agreement signed on April 17th, 2001, and the cooperation agreements on economy, trade, investment, technology, science, culture, sports and youth on May 27th, 1998.
