The Middle East is an important source of oil for China. On the weekend, Saudi Arabia’s Aramco announced its latest proposal to supply crude to a refinery in the southwest of China, where Beijing is building an oil pipeline that slices through Myanmar.

About half of China’s crude imports last year came from the Middle East and North Africa. China wants to diversify supplies, but Arab countries and Iran hold so much of global reserves that they are sure to remain major suppliers.

“China’s influence in the Middle East has grown steadily, reflecting its economic growth, and that will oblige China to speak out more about regional affairs,” said Guo Xian’gang, vice president of the China Institute of International Studies in Beijing.

On Saturday, Libya’s top oil official said Tripoli was considering offering oil block contracts directly to China, India and other nations it sees as friends in its month-long conflict with rebels.