China is eyeing Qatar as one of its key partners in completing the New Silk Road, with some reports noting that the Asian giant is also targeting better ties with the Middle Eastern country.
In May, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told the Xinhua News Agency that Qatar is a major contributor to the completion of President Xi Jinping's "Belt and Road" initiative.
According to the National Interest, Wang believes that China's economic bridging project "shares common cooperative opportunities" with Doha's future development roadmap launched in 2008.
Because of this, Qatar plays a vital role in the success of the New Silk Road that would connect China to Central Asia, Europe and Africa.
Qatar's Role
Wang's remarks came during a meeting with Emir H Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Qatar's head of state, prior to the ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum (CASCF).
He also confirmed speculations that China is eyeing better relations with Qatar because of its rich resources.
"China would like to further promote our bilateral cooperation in such fields as infrastructure, energy, productivity, finance, help Qatar to improve its independent development capacity, and further coordinate with Qatar over political solutions to the hot issues in this region," Wang stated.
According to the National Interest, it was no surprise that China would tap Qatar in the establishment of the Silk Road since it would be impossible for the Asian giant to make such massive project a success without the help of other countries.
Also, the outlet believes another reason why China is tapping Qatar is that it "is thirsty for energy resources to fuel its projects."
The New Silk Road
After it was introduced by President Xi in 2014, many speculated that China will be spending $1 trillion for the project to gain international attention and overcome the U.S.
China is now nearly three years into Xi Jinping's cooperative development strategy with European partners known as One Belt, One Road or the New Silk Road. The plan is part of China's push to leverage its economic potential to maximize geopolitical influence," Sputnik News said in May.
According to the outlet, the project is comprised of two parts, namely, the oceangoing Maritime Silk Road and the land-based Silk Road Economic Belt.
The Silk Road Economic Belt is said to cover the original "Silk Road" which runs through Central Asia, West Asia, Europe and the Middle East, while the Maritime Silk Road Initiative will serve as an expansion leg through the bodies of water covered therein including the South China Sea, the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean.