On January 19, Chinese President Xi Jinping started a state visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Arab Republic of Egypt, and Islamic Republic of Iran at the invitation of Saudi Arabia King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Egyptian president Abdel Fattah al Sisi, and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

Xi's Middle East tour marks China's first major diplomatic event in 2016, which is of great significance, and the world is paying much attention to it.

The New Year comes with wishful thinking. 2016 marks the first year of China's 13th Five-Year Plan and a crucial year for implementing the “Belt and Road” initiative.

Xi's Middle East visit reinforces Beijing's comprehensive diplomatic policy. The Middle East countries stand at a key junction along the “Belt and Road” and are China's important partners for building a community of energy cooperation.

Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iran are major states in the Middle East. The three countries and China share common development expectations that are intersecting with the Chinese Dream and aligning their development strategies.

Middle East people and the Chinese expect Xi's visit to be successful, acting as a bridge opening a new chapter for regional relations.

Comments by Xu Xiujun, associate researcher with the Institute of World Economy and Politics at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; comics drawn by Chi Ying