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China to boost cooperation with Arabs: FM

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-01-13 09:00

CAIRO -- Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on Monday met with Omani Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah in Oman's capital city of Muscat, where Yang is en route to an African tour.

During a brief stay in the Gulf country, the Chinese minister told the Omani official that China is willing to boost Sino-Arab cooperation in various fields and work with Arab countries in solving the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflicts.

The two top diplomats agreed to maintain high-level visits and diversified communications between the two countries. China and Oman would tap the potential of economic cooperation, expand bilateral investment and trade and strengthen cooperation in energy, infrastructure, agriculture, culture, education, health and other promising areas.

They are also willing to witness further cooperation between China and the Gulf Cooperation Council(GCC), which groups Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and United Arab Emirates.

As for the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Yang said the Chinese government is deeply worried about the situation in the Gaza Strip, calling on the parties concerned to strike an immediate ceasefire and where Israel should immediately withdraw its troops.

China has always proposed that the Palestinian-Israeli conflicts  be resolved through political negotiation on the basis of related UN resolutions, the "Land for Peace" principle, "the Arab Peace Initiative" and the "Road Map" plan, he said.

China is willing to cooperate with the Arab countries and international community and play a constructive role in settling the issue via political channels, the Chinese official stressed.

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi is scheduled to visit Uganda, Rwanda, Malawi, South Africa, Brazil and Portugal from January 13 to 21, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.