POLITICAL ISSUES
Egypt
1. Senior MB official seeks strong relations with China
Cairo, Sunday, 22 December 2011
Mahmoud Ghazlan, spokesman for the Muslim Brotherhood, talking about the future of Egypt, said that he appreciates Egypt-China relations and is keen on cooperation with China in various fields.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

Iran
2. Chinese senior diplomat visits Iran amid tensions
Beijing, Friday, 30 December 2011
Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhai Jun visited Iran for talks, during growing tensions over Tehran's threat to choke oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation against proposed Western sanctions over its refusal to suspend uranium enrichment and give access to UN nuclear inspectors.
Source: Reuters

3. China opposes unilateral sanctions against Iran
Beijing, Thursday, 22 December 2011
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Liu Weimin's said that China opposes unilateral sanctions against Iran. He added that China and Iran have normal and transparent business ties which are not against relevant Security Council resolutions and do not infringe upon the interests of other countries and the international community.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

Iraq
4. China expects Iraq to realize stability and development
Beijing, Sunday, 15 December 2011
At a press conference, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Liu Weimin said that China expects that Iraq will speed up the process of political and economic reconstruction.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

Syria
5. Syria's Assad appoints new ambassador to China
Damascus, Saturday, 14 December 2011
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad issued a decree appointing Imad Mustafa, Syria's former ambassador to the United States, as ambassador to China.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

Turkey
6. Senior Chinese political advisor meets Turkish guests
Beijing, Tuesday, 20 December 2011
Sun Jiazheng, vice chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee met with a study group of cadres of Turkey's opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). He said that the Communist Party of China (CPC) is ready to enhance contacts with the MHP and work together to further China-Turkey ties.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

7. Turkish delegation hopes for stronger cooperation with the CPC
Beijing, Tuesday, 20 December 2011
Yildirim Tugrul Turkes, head of the delegation visiting China and executive vice chairman of the MHP, said the MHP hopes to strengthen cooperation with the CPC. The delegation started an eleven-day visit on 19 December at the invitation of the International Department Central Committee of CPC.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

Yemen
8. China welcomes new reconciliation government in Yemen
Beijing, Thursday, 8 December 2011
Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei at a daily press briefing said that China welcomes the line-up of Yemen's new reconciliation government and expects Yemen to achieve national stability and development at an early date. He also said that China expects all relevant sides in Yemen to continuously implement the Gulf Cooperation Council initiative and its implementing mechanism.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

ENERGY ISSUES
Iran
9. China's Zhuhai Zhenrong to halve Iran oil imports in January
Beijing, Monday, 19 December 2011
China state trader Zhuhai Zhenrong Corp will cut Iranian crude oil imports in January by about 120,000 barrels per day, or half of the average monthly amount, as directed by China's Sinopec Corp, which is in dispute with its Iranian counterpart over payment issues for 2012 crude supplies.
Source: Reuters

South Sudan
10. Oil interests push China into Sudanese mire
Juba, South Sudan, Sunday, 25 December 2011
Liu Guijin, China’s visiting envoy for African affairs visited Juba to ensure continuation of production and supply of oil to China National Petroleum Corp. Earlier, China had supplied arms to Khartoum, against the southern rebels, which now run ministries in Juba.
Source: The Washington Post

UAE
11. Chinese PM to attend WFES in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi, Sunday, 18 December 2011
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao will be attending the 5th annual World Future Energy Summit (WFES) that will be held in Abu Dhabi, UAE, from January 16-19 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, CEO of Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company says that Premier Wen will provide WFES participants with firsthand insight into China’s cutting-edge economic strategy and its vision for adopting clean technology and renewable energy.
Source: Khaleej Times, Dubai

ECONOMIC ISSUES
Algeria
12. Construction projects in Middle East and North Africa rise
Dubai, Monday, 12 December 2011
Heidy Rehman, Senior Equity Research Analyst at Citigroup in Dubai, in the report “MENA Construction Projects Tracker” says that Algeria was awarded almost US$ 5 billion of projects in the first ten months of this year. This includes a US$ 1.4 billion project for the Grand Mosque in Algiers to a Chinese contractor.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

Bahrain
13. Bahrain officials meet Chinese business delegation
Manama, Saturday, 28 December 2011
During a meeting between the Chief Executive Officer of Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB), Shaikh Mohammed, and a visiting business delegation from China's Guangdong province, it was decided that Bahrain will build a regional shopping mall in cooperation with some Chinese companies.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

14. Bahrain to partner with Chinese firms on joint projects
Manama, Saturday, 28 December 2011
EDB officials met a Chinese trade delegation from Ningxia province and highlighted the investment opportunities offered by the kingdom. They discussed starting projects such as construction, agriculture and banking.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

Israel
15. China and Israel sign their biggest deal ever
Beijing, Friday, 9 December 2011
China National Chemical Corp’s (ChemChina) recent acquisition of Israel's Makhteshim Agan Group, an off-patent crop and non-crop protection products manufacturer is the biggest deal ever between China and Israel.
Source: China Daily, Beijing

Saudi Arabia
16. China’s Saudi crude imports highest in nearly two years
Cairo, Wednesday, 21 December 2011
China's crude oil imports from oil exporter Saudi Arabia rose to 4.81 million tons in November, the highest monthly imports since December 2009, customs data showed on Wednesday. The November imports were 32.3 per cent higher than a year earlier and 5.7 per cent higher than the 4.55 million tons in October.
Source: Ahramonline, Cairo

Sudan
17. Sudan asks to deal with China in Yuan and pounds
Khartoum, Thursday, 28 December 2011
Mohamed Kheir al-Zubeir, Sudan's central bank governor said that Sudan is in talks with China to see if the two countries can do business in Sudanese pounds and Chinese Yuan, rather than US dollars.
Source: Reuters

Turkey
18. Chinese firms invest 15 million dollars in Istanbul
Istanbul, Tuesday, 13 December 2011
Chinese technology giant Huawei is revamping its Istanbul research and development (R&D) centre by injecting US 15 million dollars to make it the second largest R&D centre outside China.
Source: Hurriyet Daily News, Istanbul

19. China to give hefty loan to Turkcell
Istanbul, Saturday, 24 December 2011
Turkey’s largest mobile operator, Turkcell, has signed a deal with the China Development Bank for a US 250 million dollar loan. Turkcell Treasury and Risk Management head Murat Dogan Erden said the loans provided both Turkey and Turkcell with inexpensive trade financing during a period of economic uncertainty in the world, especially in Europe.
Source: Hurriyet Daily News, Istanbul

UAE
20. UAE-China trade will ride new growth opportunities
Sharjah, Tuesday, 6 December 2011
Jiang Yaoping, Chinese Vice-Minister of Commerce and Ahmad Al Midfa, Chairman of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry inaugurated the 10th Chinese Commodities Fair at Sharjah's Expo Centre yesterday. The exhibition is expected to contribute to the trade between the two countries, especially for small and medium businesses. Al Midfa said that trade between the two countries is expected to reach US 30 billion dollars by the end of the year.
Source: Gulf News, Dubai

21. UAE pledges to bolster China-Arab trade relations
Abu Dhabi, Saturday, 28 December 2011
Speaking about the Arab-Chinese cooperation forum, Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Foreign Minister said that they would work to deepen Sino-Arab friendship and enhance political, economic and trade cooperation. Jang Fu Chang, former Chinese deputy foreign minister, said that the forum would function as a good opportunity for dialogue.
Source: Gulf News, Dubai

MULTILATERAL ISSUES
22. China expects all sides to communicate in reaching consensus on AL protocol
Beijing, Tuesday, 6 December 2011
A Foreign Ministry spokesman, Hong Lei at a daily press briefing said that China expects all relevant parties to hold talks in order to reach consensus on the Arab League (AL) protocol on an observer mission to Syria.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing; See also

23. China and Middle East trade routes
Dubai, Wednesday, 7 December 2011
The Dubai International Financial Centre, or DIFC, on Tuesday hosted “Developments Along the New Silk Road – Venturing with and investing in Chinese Companies”. It discussed the two-way trade and investment routes between the Middle East and China, and the means to deepen financial and economic relationships between the two regions.
Source: Khaleej Times, Dubai

24. China expects progress on Kyoto Protocol in Qatar
Durban, Sunday, 11 December 2011
The 17th Conference of Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Framework Convention of Climate Change (UNFCCC) agreed on the second commitment period under the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. Xie Zhenhua, head of the Chinese delegation to the conference said that he expects political sincerity from developed countries next year in Qatar.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

25. China supports Russia's draft resolution on Syrian crisis
Beijing, Monday, 19 December 2011
At a daily press conference held in Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said that China supports Russia's new draft for a Security Council resolution on the Syrian situation and appreciates Russia's constructive efforts to solve the crisis. He also said that China hopes the Syrian crisis will be resolved within the framework of the Arab League.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing; See also; See also

26. Iran nuclear issue can only be solved via dialogue, negotiations
United Nations, Wednesday, 21 December 2011
Wang Min, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, said that China hopes that Iran could properly solve the outstanding issues through dialogue and cooperation with the IAEA.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

27. Marks 10th anniversary of China-Arab Friendship Association
Beijing, Sunday, 22 December 2011
CAFA president Tomur Dawamat said that China expects to work with Arab countries to continuously advance friendly relations of cooperation. Abdullah Saadi, acting head of Arab diplomatic missions and ambassador of Oman to China added that the CAFA has helped in cementing political relations based on mutual respect and expanding China-Arab economic and trade exchanges.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

28. Iran’s drill a response to US threats: Chinese diplomat
Tehran, Monday, 26 December 2011
Teheran, Wednesday 26 December 2011
Hua Liming, a former ambassador in the Middle East and a researcher at the China Institute of International Studies said that Iran's latest drill is a gesture in response to recent diplomatic and military threats by the US and Israel.
Source: China Daily, Beijing; See also, China Daily

MISCELLANEOUS
Israel
29. Jerusalem institute helps Chinese doctors address child abuse
Jerusalem, Friday, 23 December 2011
A team from the Jerusalem-based Haruv Institute, which provides training in identifying and fighting child abuse and neglect, began a five-day seminar for forty Chinese paediatricians. Dr. Yoram Ben-Yehuda and Dr. Gabriel Otterman led the seminar.
Source: The Jerusalem Post; Also See: Xinhua, Beijing

Turkey
30. Year of Chinese Culture opens in Ankara
Ankara, Monday, 12 December 2011
Chinese Ambassador to Turkey Gong Xiaosheng said the Year of Chinese Culture will also bring Chinese literature, arts, cultural heritages, films, acrobatics, puppet shows, among others, to different Turkish cities.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

31. Chinese, Turkish Presidents exchange greetings on culture years
Beijing, Monday, 12 December 2011
Exchanging congratulatory messages to mark the occasion, Chinese President Hu Jintao said that closer people-to-people exchanges between China and Turkey will enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples. His Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul said that friendly and cooperative relations between Turkey and China in various fields have been developing rapidly.
Source: Xinhua, Beijing

32. Chery Joint Venture takes aim at Europe car market
Beijing, Monday, 5 December 2011
Chery Quantum Auto Co, a joint venture between Chery Automobile and investment firm Israel Corp, recently unveiled the design of its first car, which it hopes will allow it to reverse a trend, and export made-in-China cars to Western Europe.
Source: China Daily, Beijing

UAE
33. Chinese exhibition opens in Dubai
Dubai, Tuesday, 6 December 2011
The China Homelife Show organized by international trade and exhibition specialist, MeOrient International Group returns to the emirate for the second consecutive year. The UAE Minister of Economy Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri and other dignitaries opened the three-day exhibition on Monday where over 300 China based suppliers and manufacturers of home ware products will showcase more than 1,500 items at Dubai Airport Expo Centre.
Source: Khaleej Times, Dubai

34. Etihad Airways begins flights to China's Chengdu
Dubai, Friday, 16 December 2011
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates began four non- stop services per week between its hub in Abu Dhabi and Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province in southwest China. Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, James Hogan says this is the first and only direct flight between UAE and Sichuan province.
Source: Gulf News, Dubai

35. Chinese toymakers work to improve their image in the Gulf
Dubai, Wednesday, 7 December 2011
Despite the popularity of Chinese merchandise, toys are amongst the few items in Chinese-made products, which reflect consumer reluctance over quality. To rectify this, Chinese toymakers plan to improve their marketing capability to connect with the kids in the Gulf markets. Ji Huilin, general manager of BS International, the toys trading arm of China's Shantou Chenghai government set up a business centre in Dubai and gained a better understanding of the market.
Source: Gulf News, Dubai

Compiled by Archana Rath

Archana Rath is pursuing her Masters degree in School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, and is an Intern at MEI@ND. Email

As part of the policy, the MEI@ND standardizes spellings and date format to make the text uniformly accessible and stylistically consistent. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views/positions of the MEI@ND. Editor, MEI@ND P R Kumaraswamy