Sultan of Oman makes historic Beijing visit as China signs currency swap and presses Gulf diplomacy

Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of Oman made the first state visit to Beijing by an Omani head of state in nearly five decades.

• China and Oman on Tuesday signed a five-year currency swap agreement worth 30 billion yuan ($4.5 billion), alongside 14 memoranda covering investment, technology and artificial intelligence.
• Xi warned that the Middle East should not become an arena for "great power rivalry and geopolitical conflicts."
• Foreign minister Wang Yi told Iran's deputy national security council secretary that China supports Tehran "in safeguarding its sovereignty and security."
• Foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said China will send special envoy Zhai Jun to Iran, Oman and Saudi Arabia in early to mid-November.