China plays crucial role to restore Saudi-Iran diplomatic ties: Croatian expert

Wang Yi (C), a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, attends a closing meeting of the talks between the Saudi delegation and Iranian delegation in China, March 10, 2023. (Xinhua/Luo Xiaoguang)

China enters Saudi Arabia-Iran negotiations with much more trust than the United States and is thus more effective, said a Croatian political analyst.

ZAGREB, March 13 (Xinhua) -- The agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran to re-establish diplomatic relations could not have been reached without China's crucial role of mediation, said a Croatian political analyst on Monday.

"It is a success for China," Marinko Ogorec told Xinhua, adding that China, as a major country in the world, has both the political will and international prestige to help achieve such a success.

After years of open hostility, Saudi Arabia and Iran agreed last week to restore diplomatic ties after talks facilitated by China -- a significant development for the two nations and a boon to the security and stability of the Middle East.

Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, presides over the closing meeting of the talks between a Saudi delegation and an Iranian delegation in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2023. (Xinhua/Luo Xiaoguang)

In a joint statement released with China on Friday, Saudi Arabia and Iran agreed to reopen their embassies and diplomatic missions within two months, hold talks between their foreign ministers on the arrangement of ambassadors' exchange, and explore ways to improve bilateral ties.

In contrast to the United States, who has played a role of suppressing one side and supporting the other in the Middle East, China has taken a different approach by promoting dialogue, peace and cooperation, said Ogorec.

China "enters negotiations with much more trust than the U.S." and is thus more effective, he said.

People participate in a rally to express their rejection of the U.S. peace plan for the Middle East, in Rabat, Morocco, on Feb. 9, 2020. (Photo by Chadi/Xinhua)

The United States has discredited itself in the so-called "Arab Spring," which "the U.S. was surely involved (in)," said Ogorec, adding that the uprisings didn't end "as they thought they would" and that the U.S. influence in the region has waned.

Ogorec said he believed that as the world heads to multi-polarity, China will play an even bigger role in the international stage in the future.

China's mediation role in restoring Saudi-Iran diplomatic ties "is a sign of China's even greater influence in the future," Ogorec said.

This photo taken on Dec. 7, 2022 shows jets painting the sky in red and yellow, colors of China's national flag, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.(Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Expecting future negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, the Croatian analyst said China could also be an important mediator to ease the conflict.