Riyadh is interested in becoming an observer and Tehran is on its way to becoming a member. The China-led group could have the makings of a no-strings-attached energy club.

The voting was held at the first plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.

Xi Jinping told Vladimir Putin on Thursday that China is ready to work with Russia “in extending strong support to each other on issues concerning their respective core interests”.

China has repeatedly said the US House Speaker should not visit the island, with one observer suggesting ‘even stronger warnings’ have been given in private. Pelosi has not confirmed whether she will visit Taiwan, but if she does she will be the highest ranked US official to do so since 1997.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has warned against the risk of a second wave of infections in the country as the global pandemic continues to spread, state-run news agency Xinhua reported.