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Shi Jiangtao

Chinese Premier Li Qiang pledged to deepen cooperation with Qatar in energy, investment, AI and diplomatic efforts to de-escalate Middle East tensions.
Li delivered the remarks during a meeting on Monday in Beijing with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who is on an official two-day visit to China aimed at bolstering bilateral ties.
His visit came as Beijing and Doha sought to navigate an increasingly volatile regional security environment and ensure international navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for China’s energy imports and Qatar’s LNG exports, which supply nearly one-third of China’s demand for liquefied natural gas.
Iran on Monday said talks with Oman on a temporary safe passage through the strait were in their final stage, with the agreement expected to be registered with the International Maritime Organisation in the coming days.
Tehran also confirmed that a Qatari delegation’s visit on Sunday was part of regional de-escalation efforts.


“China stands ready to work with Qatar to strengthen communication and coordination, firmly support each other and deepen cooperation in energy, investment, artificial intelligence and people-to-people exchanges,” a Chinese foreign ministry statement quoted Li as saying.
Calling Qatar China’s important strategic partner in the Middle East, Li also called for enhanced multilateral coordination between the two countries to help build “a more just and equitable global governance system”.
The Chinese premier said Beijing supported Qatar’s mediating and brokering role regarding the situation in the Middle East, adding that Beijing was ready to work with Qatar, other Gulf states and the broader international community to “restore peace and tranquillity to the region at an early date”.
Sheikh Mohammed said Qatar was willing to work with China to strengthen exchanges at all levels, deepen cooperation in trade, high technology and advanced manufacturing, and jointly usher in the next “golden decade of bilateral relations”, according to the Chinese statement.
In a statement published on social media, Qatar’s foreign ministry said the talks focused on expanding cooperation in the economy, investment, trade, energy and technology, as well as boosting existing partnerships in areas of mutual interest.
The two sides also discussed key regional developments, it said without elaboration.
Since 2020, China has been Qatar’s largest trading partner and top export destination, with bilateral trade volume rising from US$10.6 billion in 2014 to US$24.22 billion in 2024, for a 128 per cent increase over the decade, according to Cao Xiaolin, China’s ambassador to Qatar.
Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari, Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesman, told the Qatar News Agency on Sunday that Sheikh Mohammed’s visit would address “major regional developments and diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions,” while strengthening bilateral relations “across various fields” and emphasising “the need to ensure the security and freedom of international navigation in the Strait of Hormuz”.




During his state visit to Egypt last week, Chinese President Xi Jinping unveiled a four-point proposal for a new Middle East security architecture, urging regional countries to become “masters of their own destiny”, reject external interference and place economic development at the heart of “regional common security”.
Last Wednesday, Xi told Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi that China stood ready to work with countries in the region to safeguard the security of international shipping lanes, advance development cooperation and eliminate the breeding grounds for conflict.
Qatar hosts a major US airbase while maintaining open channels with Iran and has been a mediator in the Middle East. Its position is widely seen as complementary to Beijing’s preference for dialogue and economic leverage rather than military involvement.
In late August, Sheikh Mohammed visited Tehran to mediate between Washington and Tehran, focusing on keeping the Strait of Hormuz open and identifying a framework for resuming US-Iran dialogue.
The Qatari foreign ministry said the talks addressed de-escalation efforts and a proposed Iranian-Omani framework for managing navigation through Hormuz, a major conduit for global energy supplies through which about 20 million barrels per day of oil pass, with roughly 80 per cent destined for Asian markets.
In March, during a phone call with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Sheikh Mohammed said Qatar appreciated Beijing’s mediation efforts and hoped it could play a greater role in bringing about a ceasefire.
This week’s meeting in Beijing underscores the complex balancing act Gulf states face amid the intensifying US-China rivalry.
The states continue to rely on deep security and military partnerships with Washington, even as they expand energy and investment ties and political engagement with Beijing, which offers cooperation without security guarantees or alliance obligations.


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Li Qiang makes pledge during meeting with Qatari prime minister visiting on official two-day state visit in Beijing on Monday


Li Qiang makes pledge during meeting with Qatari prime minister visiting on official two-day state visit in Beijing on Monday.


China vows deeper cooperation with Qatar in energy, AI and Middle East de-escalation

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Li Qiang makes pledge during meeting with Qatari prime minister visiting on official two-day state visit in Beijing on Monday

Li Qiang makes pledge during meeting with Qatari prime minister visiting on official two-day state visit in Beijing on Monday