Chinese FM expounds on Xi's Mideast trip

JOINTLY BUILDING CHINA-ARAB COMMUNITY WITH SHARED FUTURE

Wang said Xi made a keynote speech at the first China-Arab States Summit, in which the Chinese president reviewed the time-honored history of friendly exchanges between the two sides, and refined the enduring spirit of the Chinese-Arab friendship that has spanned a thousand years.

Xi pointed out in his speech that solidarity and mutual assistance is a distinct feature of China-Arab friendship, equality and mutual benefit is a constant driver for the friendship, and inclusiveness and mutual learning is a key value inherent in the friendship, Wang said.

The Chinese president called on China and Arab states to foster a closer China-Arab community with a shared future, by staying independent and defending the common interests of both sides, focusing on economic development and promoting win-win cooperation, upholding regional peace and striving for common security, and increasing exchanges among civilizations to enhance mutual understanding and trust, Wang said.

Xi said China will work with the Arab side to advance eight major cooperation initiatives in areas including development support, food security, public health, green innovation, energy security, inter-civilizational dialogue, youth development, and security and stability, Wang noted.

Leaders attending the summit said the friendly relations between Arab states and China are based on mutual respect, equal cooperation and mutual benefit, Wang said.

The Arab world makes much of China's great development achievements and of its important role in the world, Wang noted, adding that a deepened Arab-China strategic partnership is conducive to better realizing fairness and justice, safeguarding world peace and development, and realizing the common aspirations of the Arab and Chinese people.

China and Arab states jointly issued the Riyadh Declaration of the First China-Arab States Summit, in which both sides agree to make all-out efforts to build a China-Arab community with a shared future in the new era, Wang noted.

The two sides also call for carrying out dialogue and communication between civilizations, preserving global cultural diversity, rejecting discrimination and prejudice against a particular civilization, and rejecting the theory of the clash of civilizations, Wang noted.

The declaration stressed a firm adherence to the one-China principle on the Taiwan question and issues related to Hong Kong and Xinjiang, Wang added.