Much is made of links between Beijing and Tehran, but the true extent of their relations is more limited. Where there are alternatives, China takes them, with one eye on the US.
Saudi Arabia's new approach that looks after its own interests seems to be paying off. China has been pivotal in getting regional players to cooperate peacefully in a way that benefits all.
The annual conflab to sign off on policy decisions gave clues as to the thinking in Beijing. China's future is bright if it can ride out the coming storm.
China's maritime focus at present remains in its vicinity. Its presence in the Middle East is a slow build. It might never become a regional military superpower, but it can't be ruled out entirely.
Both China and the Gulf have much to offer one another, especially with the Gulf's thirst for big infrastructure projects and China's thirst for carbon.
On the Davos Promenade — the centre of social activities — the most prominent pavilions belong to Gulf countries and India. Meanwhile, China's sizeable delegation unnerves the US.
President-elect Lai will certainly be limited in his capacity to enact any major shift in the coming years. Meanwhile, Beijing's Taiwan policy has proven ineffective and may need a change of course.
Several universities have banned their Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voice for Peace chapters, two anti-Zionist student clubs, as donors and Congress ramp up pressure
With $175bn worth of annual business between the two blocs, a free trade deal seems only sensible, yet visas and vested commercial interests remain obstacles.
Set to the stunning backdrop of AlUla, Norah by Tawfiq Al-Zaidi has broken new ground for Saudi cinema with a story about two people who inspire one another.