❗️Xi says West Asia must not become arena for great-power rivalry Chinese President Xi Jinping told Omani Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al-Said on Monday that West Asia must not become a theater for great-power competition, stressing Beijing's willingness to work with regional countries to secure lasting peace. "The Middle East Gulf region should not become an arena for great-power rivalry and geopolitical conflict. Peace and stability in the region require joint nurturing and protection by all parties," Xi said, according to China's Foreign Ministry. Beijing remains committed to ending the war and hopes to contribute "wisdom and solutions to resolving the region's security dilemmas," Xi added, expressing readiness to strengthen coordination with regional countries, including members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), to restore peace and ensure long-term regional stability and security. A 20-point joint statement issued by both sides called for the restoration of normal and safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. It also urged Washington and Tehran to pursue a peaceful resolution, return to the agreement reached in June to end the war, and resume dialogue. Later on Monday, China's Foreign Ministry announced that its West Asia special envoy, Zhai Jun, would travel to Iran, Oman, and Saudi Arabia this month.