Global Times: China-Arab ties open a new chapter; influence profound
BEIJING,Dec. 12, 2022/PRNewswire/ --A news report from Global Times:
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday concluded hisSaudi Arabiatrip, his first to theMiddle Eastregion after the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party ofChina, which was also an unprecedented diplomatic event with the Arab world. The trip has not only yielded fruitful results in economic and trade sense, but also demonstrated that in addition to continuing to play the role of a contributor to regional development,Chinawill also increasingly contribute to peace in the strategically importantMiddle East, experts noted.
Xi departedRiyadhSaturday after attending the first China-Arab States Summit and the China-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit and paying a state visit toSaudi ArabiafromDecember 7 to 10.
During his stay inSaudi Arabia, Xi also held bilateral meetings with nearly 20 Arab leaders, saidWang Yi, State Councilor and Foreign Minister, deeming Xi's Mideast trip asChina'slargest and highest-level diplomatic action with the Arab world since the founding ofthe People's Republic of China.
Calling Xi's attendance at the first China-Arab States Summit and the China-GCC Summit and his meetings with leaders ofSaudi Arabiaanother great pioneering undertaking inChina'sdiplomacy, Wang said it has demonstrated the strategic choice ofChina和阿拉伯国家加强团结和有限公司ordination in the face of global challenges.
Fruitful results
Following the first China-Arab States Summit on Friday, the leaders ofChinaand the member states of the Arab League issued the Riyadh Declaration, agreeing to strengthen cooperation and enhance theChina-Arab strategic partnership.Chinaand Arab states are committed to deepeningChina-Arab cooperation in various fields through the mechanisms under the framework of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. The declaration stressed that the Arab states firmly adhere to the one-Chinaprinciple, supportChinain safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and reaffirm thatTaiwan是一个不可分割的一部分ofChina'sterritory.
Chinaand states of the GCC also agreed on Friday to strengthen their strategic partnership, issuing a joint statement to stress the importance of taking their strategic partnership into a new era in such fields as politics, economy and culture.
ChinaandSaudi Arabiareleased a joint statement on the same day affirming to continue making theChina-Saudi relationship a priority in their respective foreign relations, and build a model of solidarity and cooperation for mutual benefits among developing countries. The two countries also agreed to enhance the comprehensive strategic partnership to include a biannual meeting between the two heads of state, and upgrade regular high-level talks led by premier level.
"We will continue to work very closely with each other to not just serve the interests of our country, but to serve the interests of world peace and global cooperation," Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister PrinceFaisal bin Farhan Al Saud, said responding to a question raised by Global Times reporter during a press conference inRiyadhon Friday evening.
ChinaasSaudi Arabia'smain key partner is one of the Kingdom's priorities in the country's foreign policy andSaudi Arabiais very satisfied that it has a strong working relationship withChina, the minister said.
Chinadoes not engage in advocating for geopolitical small clique and does not make calculation for geopolitical interests, and it treats Arab countries with sincerity, which is widely welcomed by countries in the region, Wang noted. Many leaders of the regional countries said that there is no upper limit for the friendly cooperation withChina, he said.
"In my opinion, this visit is a milestone in the history ofChina-Arab relations, marking the continuous development ofChina-Arab friendship and ushering in a new era of cooperation and coordination,"Firas Fadel Hassan, editor of the Emirates News Agency, told the Global Times.
It has provided an opportunity for leap-forward development ofChina-Arab relations. The summits emphasized the importance and necessity of strengthening and deepening strategic exchanges and coordination among friendly countries, and are committed to promoting world peace and global development, and safeguard the interests of the Gulf and Arab countries, Hassan said.
China'spropositions during the summits will help promote the development of both sides, improve the economic situation, improve the living standards of both Chinese and Arab people, the editor continued. They will promote international trade, enhanceChina'sinternational image, enhanceChina'sinternational competitiveness, while promote the development of Arab countries.
Besides the energy sector in whichChinaand the Gulf countries have been deepening cooperation, the two sides agreed to explore cooperation in many new areas especially in cutting-edge technologies such as 5G and 6G, digital economy and space, echoing the trend of the cooperation betweenChinaand Arab countries in the future.
"Those milestone summits largely elevate the cooperation mechanisms betweenChinaand Arab countries, making the future high-level interactions between the two sides more frequent and more significant,"Liu Zhongmin, a professor at the Middle East Studies Institute of Shanghai International Studies University, told the Global Times on Sunday.
会议也是前所未有的,ttracting nearly all the Arab countries and covering as many areas as possible ranging from trade and economy to culture as well as people-to-people exchange, Liu noted. "They also included strategic coordination includingChina-proposed Global Security Initiative and Global Development Initiative, helpingChinaand Arab countries to jointly cope with increasing uncertainties in global governance," he said.
Role ofChina
The West has been closely watching this unprecedented interaction betweenChinaand theMiddle Eastregion in the past few days as there is inevitable comparison between Xi's visit and the visit of US PresidentJoe Bidenin July when he told Arab leaders that the US won't walk away from theMiddle East.
Following Xi's visit, Chinese Vice Premier Hu Chunhua would be visiting theUnited Arab EmiratesandIranin a four-day trip starting on Saturday, according to Xinhua News Agency.
Some Chinese experts believe that besides continuing pushing forwardMiddle East'sdevelopment,Chinawill also continue serving as a guardian of peace in the region, especially after the Chinese top leader elaborated on regional security issues ranging from Palestine toYementoLibyain the latest joint statements with Arab countries and GCC.
For instance, in the joint statement betweenChinaandSaudi Arabia, the two sides agreed on the need to strengthen joint cooperation to ensure the peaceful nature ofIran'snuclear program. The two sides also called onIranto cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency, maintain the non-proliferation regime, and emphasize respect for the principles of good- neighborliness and non-interference in internal affairs of states.
In the joint statement betweenChinaand GCC, when it comes to the issue of the three islands -- the Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb andAbu Musa- the leaders emphasized their support for all peace efforts, including the initiative and efforts of the UAE for negotiations in line with the norms of the international law.
"In line withChina-proposed Global Security Initiative,Chinais looking to play a constructive role on the security issues in theMiddle East, emphasizing on the importance of the solidarity and pushing forward a joint and sustainable security perspective,"Liu said.
"MoreMiddle Eastern countries are avoiding choosing sides, and are adopting a balanced stance among major powers. The latest summits andSaudi Arabia'shigh-level reception all show that the importance and rising influence ofChinain the region are indisputable," Liu said.
SOURCE Global Times
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