The visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Saudi Arabia, which began yesterday and will last for three days, comes at a very sensitive time given the political transformations the world is going through, an indication of a noticeable change in international relations, and a historic turning point for the Middle East region, which has long been seen as a focus of exclusive influence of the United States, especially through its military presence

The Chinese President's visit to Saudi Arabia has raised US criticism, not surprisingly, with the White House warning the kingdom, its strategic partner in the region, that Beijing's attempt to expand its influence in the world is "incompatible" with the international order.

In contrast, China sees this visit as its "biggest diplomatic initiative ever" with the Arab world, and it coincides with Riyadh's quest to expand its international alliances beyond its long-standing partnership with the West.

According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Xi Jinping's program represents "the largest large-scale diplomatic activity between China and the Arab world since the founding of the people's Republic of China".

The importance of this visit is the meeting of the Asian industrial and economic power with the Gulf energy giant, while Saudi relations with Washington are tense, especially against the background of the issue of human rights, as well as Riyadh's support for restrictions on oil production before the midterm elections in the United States in November.

All this at a time when US President Joe Biden considers the situation a global competition between democracies and authoritarian regimes, and makes it the focus of his presidential reign.

It seems that President Xi Jinping seeks through his visit to strike two birds with one stone, it is scheduled to hold two summits, the first Gulf-Chinese, and the second Arab-Chinese attended by the leaders of the countries of the region who have begun to flock to the Saudi capital, including Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Tunisian President Kais Saied arrives in Riyadh on Thursday. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shiaa al-Sudani, Moroccan prime minister Aziz Akhannouch and Lebanese caretaker prime minister Najib Mikati also confirmed their attendance.

For Saudi Arabia, frustrated by what it sees as Washington's gradual disengagement from the Middle East and the slow erosion of its security guarantees, China offers an opportunity to achieve economic gains without the tensions reflected in relations with Washington.