China’s Economic Restructuring and Extension of China’s Middle East Strategy

Abstract: Joint construction of “the Silk Road Economic Belt” and “the Maritime Silk Road of the 21st Century” is not only the objective requirement of China’s further economic development and its deepening reform and opening policy, especially its national strategy of “opening to the west”, but also a major historical opportunity for the development of the Asia-Europe countries particularly the Middle East countries. While Chinese economy achieved remarkable development, the economy of the Middle Eastern countries ploughed through the turmoil and fighting. From the point of view of the global economy, the economies of China and of the Middle East countries are at different stages of historical development. This kind of difference just reflected the complementarity in their economic cooperation. The two sides ought to grasp this historical opportunity, use complementary advantages and achieve win-win cooperation. With the status of the Middle East in China’s diplomacy being definitely rising, China’s Middle East strategy should grasp four points of emphasis, such as expansion of the international political space, strengthening of national security, promotion of trade and economic cooperation, and enhancing soft power.