Wang Yi: China and Arab Countries Are Increasingly Becoming a Community of Shared Interests
Take me away, mom Animals on the Road	“Water Margin” on eggs Cat the occupier Adorable animals pose like stars Cuddle up together, battling against blizzard Sunshine in the life

 

On 4 May, when asked about China's relations with Arab states during an interview with Al Jazeera in Beijing, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that the Middle East has a unique and important place in China’s foreign policy. We are all developing countries, we have similar historical experiences and we share the goal of revitalizing our nations. Hence, the people of China and Arab countries have been close friends and strong partners.

Wang Yi stressed that the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum is an important platform for dialogue and cooperation that China has established with other developing countries. Over the past twelve years since the founding of the Forum, China’s relations with Arab states have moved forward in all respects thanks to concerted efforts. Five Arab states have signed cooperation agreements with China under the Belt and Road Initiative. Seven Arab states have joined as founding members the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank established under China’s proposal. Eight Arab countries have established strategic partnerships with China. And China has become the largest trading partner of 10 Arab states. In addition, the number of students from Arab states studying in China has risen rapidly to 14,000. Every week, nearly 200 flights travel between China and Arab countries. Underpinned by their traditional friendship, China and Arab countries are increasingly becoming a community of shared interests.

Wang Yi pointed out that at the upcoming 7th Ministerial Meeting held in Qatar, our discussion with Arab states will be focused on ways to follow through on President Xi Jinping’s policy initiative to achieve China’s friendly ties with Arab countries and a number of key measures he announced during his visit to the League of Arab States last January. We will announce another host of specific policies and measures on strengthening China-Arab states relations as part of our policies to enhance friendship with Arab states. For example, in the next two years, we will invite to China additional 6,000 students from Arab states under government scholarships, train 6,000 professionals for Arab states and invite 600 leaders of different political parties and group of Arab countries to visit China and hold equal-footed and friendly exchanges on governance issues with relevant authorities of China.

Author： 　　　Source：CRI　　　 Editor：Yang Fan