Middle EastUpdated November 2
China plans diplomatic visits to Saudi Arabia and six other countries in November.
Asharq News reported that China’s Foreign Ministry announced plans for its special Middle East envoy, Zhai Jun, to visit Iran, Oman and Saudi Arabia in the first half of November. China’s special representative for African affairs, Liu Xianfa, is scheduled to visit Ethiopia, Djibouti and Egypt during the same period, while its special envoy for Horn of Africa affairs, Hu Changchun, is due in Eritrea in early November. China described the visits as intended to encourage dialogue and reconciliation, contain tensions and reduce escalation; these are stated aims, not outcomes. Separately, the Saudi Press Agency reported the Saudi Foreign Ministry’s Oct. 26, 2026, statement describing the Saudi defense minister’s visit to Tehran with representatives of the Mecca Agreement for Joint Defense as part of efforts to reduce escalation, encourage dialogue and diplomatic solutions, and support mediation by Qatar and Pakistan. The ministry called for negotiation channels to prevent a return to military escalation.
Coverage started November 2