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Saudi Arabia and Iran agreed here in Beijing to reopen diplomatic missions in their respective capitals and in additional cities and are studying the prospects of resuming flights between the two countries on Thursday.

The two sides issued a joint statement after Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian held the first formal meeting between the most senior diplomats from the two countries in more than seven years. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang witnessed the signing ceremony.

The agreement, without doubt, is a step forward to further upgrade the Riyadh-Tehran relationship, which is vital for the future of the Middle East.After decades of conflicts, regional countries want peace and development. As two powerful neighbors, Saudi Arabia and Iran have been locked in years of hostility that is exacerbated by regional differences and geopolitical struggles in the Middle East. The U.S. invasion of Iraq and the uprisings across the Arab world in the 2010s have further complicated ties between the two arch-rivals. 

Years of confrontation has not made the two powers more secure. Instead, Riyadh and Tehran have sustained more losses than wins, with local people being the victims. This ground reality has driven the two neighbors to sit down and talk.

In addition, with the U.S. footprint shrinking in the Middle East, the two powers are diverting their focus from geopolitical rivalries to domestic development. Saudi Arabia, facing fluctuating oil prices and complicated geopolitical risks, is steering away from its previous economic model that relied heavily on oil exports and fossil fuel extractions. Under the Vision 2030, Riyadh is accelerating energy transition and developing a diversified economic structure. This requires stability at home – and thus easing tensions with rivals in the region.

Iran – a country that has been put under years-long sanctions – is in urgent need to scale up cooperation for development as well.The country has seen its currency slumping and the inflation skyrocketing since the U.S., under former President Donald Trump, pulled out from the 2015 nuclear deal and re-imposed unilateral sanctions in May 2018. 

The COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukrainian crisis have made the economic situation even worse for Iran. The country saw its inflation rate increasing from 51.3 percent in January this year to 53.4 percent in February, according to data from Statistical Center of Iran. Against this backdrop,warming up ties with Saudi Arabia means a stable exterior environment for development.

The two neighbors have the will to ease tensions, and China has played an irreplaceable role in their restoration of friendly interactions. China-proposed initiatives in global security respect the interests of all parties concerned. The country has no history of colonization and has no interest in intervening in other countries' affairs. In addition, China has remained Iran's and Saudi Arabia's largest trading partner for years, according to the Ministry of Commerce. Therefore, Riyadh and Tehran embrace Beijing's role as a security solution provider and a contributor for economic growth when seeking peace and development.

As Chinese President Xi Jinping said in his speech at the headquarters of the League of Arab States in 2016, "Instead of looking for a proxy in the Middle East, China promotes peace talks; instead of seeking any sphere of influence, China calls on all countries to join the circle of friends for the 'Belt and Road'; instead of attempting to fill the 'vacuum', China builds a cooperative partnership network for mutual benefits and win-win results."

Unlike certain countries that have been instigating geopolitical rivalries, China calls for cooperation and development in the Middle East. This has helped China gain credibility among regional countries. China's significance in the re-establishment of Saudi Arabia-Iran ties is recognized by the UN. "The secretary-general has expressed his appreciation to the People's Republic of China for hosting these recent talks and for promoting dialogue between the two countries," UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said, according to Xinhua reports.

Decades of turmoil has dragged the Middle East into an abyss of misery. Geopolitical competition brings no good for local people. Having suffered from years of tensions, countries in the region want peace and development. China, as a major power on the world arena, is happy to mediate between Saudi Arabia and Iran for win-win outcomes.

After all, war would never serve humanity. Cooperation, not confrontation, is the only way forward.

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