Just days after king Salman's departure from China, Israel's PM Netanyahu headed there, saying that "Israel is in high demand," citing recent trips to Washington and Moscow. Ahead of the visit, China's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said "it is hoped" that Saudi Arabia and Israel will both contribute to peace in the Middle East.

Meanwhile, a Chinese tech company, ZTE, pleaded guilty to charges of violating U.S. sanctions against Iran, by supplying U.S.-made equipment there for the construction of telecommunications networks.