On Friday, Chinese President Xi Jinping touted close security and energy ties with Gulf nations during summit meetings in Saudi Arabia that have highlighted tensions with Washington. On the third and final day of his visit, Xi attended summits of the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and a broader China-Arab leaders’ meeting. “China will continue to firmly support the GCC countries in maintaining their own security… and build a collective security framework for the Gulf,” Xi said at the start of the China-GCC summit.
