Abu Dhabi ( CNN ) -- China 's Xi Jinping , who is expected to be named president in March and likely next premier Li Keqiang will inherit a foreign policy that puts a premium on partnerships that can help China fuel its resource-hungry economy . In the world of geo-politics , symbolism goes a long way in forging lasting , strategic relations . This is certainly the case when it comes to China 's role within the Middle East , specifically with Saudi Arabia , the country with the world 's largest proven oil reserves . When King Abdullah took over the throne in Saudi Arabia , his first foreign visit in January 2006 was to Beijing after an invitation of President Hu Jintao . Six years later , the countries ' two state-run energy giants , China 's Sinopec and Saudi Aramco , inked a huge oil agreement guaranteeing the Asian nation an additional 400,000 barrels a day from a Red Sea refinery in the Saudi city of Yanbu . This is on top of the estimated one million barrels of oil a day it now orders from the Kingdom . `` We need China as much as China needs us , '' said Khalid Al-Falih in a CNN interview right after he signed the agreement , `` But the energy corridor is only part of it . We envisage an exchange of goods and services and trade in other areas that add value to the Chinese economy and to the Saudi economy as well . '' That deal follows a major equity investment in the Fujian province where Saudi Aramco invested in petrochemical manufacturing facilities along with U.S. energy giant ExxonMobil . In the 19th century the battle over influence of Central Asia was described as the `` Great Game '' as the British and Russian empires vied for control and influence in the region . In the 21st century , one may view China 's influence in the Middle East in a similar vein . `` Clearly there are mutual interests in terms of large energy suppliers and consumers , but there will be stress points , of course , '' said Ben Simpfendorfer , co-founder of Silk Road Associates , an investment advisory firm specializing on trade between the Middle East and Far East Asia . China , experts say , is keen to lock in strategic commodity supplies rather than exercise political influence at this juncture . This is reflected in its vetoes -- together with Russia -- striking down resolutions against Syria on the United Nations Security Council . This strategy of non-intervention may not be sustainable , says Simpfendorfer , `` I think China 's position will be challenged by the Gulf countries and that is certainly a risk the new leadership has to look out for '' especially since Beijing is so dependent on the region to fuel its economic expansion . But one can not doubt whether the world 's second largest economy is instrumental in rebuilding the ancient Silk Road . China continues to go to great lengths to foster developing market trade partners -- some argue to exploit their natural resources in the case of Africa -- as part of its `` Great Game '' strategy . China rolls out the welcome mat on its soil , for example recently inviting Arab leaders to Yinchuan , in northern-central part of the country , for the 3rd China-Arab States Economic and Trade Forum . There are some lofty expectations for trade between China and the Arab states . The United Arab Emirates ' foreign trade minister , Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi , said bilateral trade between the Gulf and China could hit $ 300 billion by 2014 . Trade between China and the UAE grew 10 % last year alone , witnessing a fivefold increase in less than a decade . Some see Dubai 's Jebel Ali port as an excellent gateway for China into the African continent . This keen business interest in the Middle East is not likely to change with Xi Jinping taking over the helm in 2013 , but is China ready for a G-2 world dominated by Washington and Beijing ? Not yet , strategists suggest . Beijing prefers the relative comfort of the broader G-20 world that brings the developed and developing world under one umbrella , with the ability for the new leaders of China to seek political alignment from BRICS partners Brazil , Russia , India and South Africa . All the while , China continues to blaze new trails beyond the Middle East in search of strategic supplies . This autumn , the country made inroads into Afghanistan with the first high level visit in more than a half century . The bounty is a promising one with more than a trillion dollars of mineral deposits estimated in the country . China 's `` Great Game '' continues with an ever expanding footprint from the Middle East well into South Asia .
China 's foreign policy values relationships to fuel its resource-hungry economy . Comment: China 's `` Great Game '' seeks supplies rather than political influence .