Diplomatic hits and misses of 2023

Saudi Arabia and Iran restore relations

In March, Saudi Arabia and Iran reached a deal, including the agreement to resume diplomatic relations, under the mediation of China. In December, the first vice-ministerial level meeting of the China-Saudi Arabia-Iran trilateral joint committee was held in Beijing.

All of these efforts were made to encourage regional countries to realize development through solidarity and resolve disputes and differences through dialogue and consultation, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin, adding that China would like to work relentlessly to that end.

After the reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran, a thaw in relations across the region, which had been prepared for over three years, suddenly accelerated. In April, Tunisia and Syria agreed to resume diplomatic ties, and Bahrain and Qatar agreed to resume ties the same month.