China's engagement in the Middle East is driven by economic interests, but its new activism reflects the evolution of Chinese foreign policy thinking. China's original choice of partners in the region was influenced by ideological considerations and a shared anti-colonial and anti-imperialist narrative. However, its transformation into an economic powerhouse has inevitably altered its priorities and influence in the Middle East. China's economic penetration of the region is reflected in the set of cooperation agreements that it has concluded with regional states.
