The eyes of the Arab peoples and the peoples of the world are riveted on the first “Riyadh Arab-Chinese Cooperation and Development Summit”, which takes place at the generous invitation of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud – God bless him – and hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from December 7 to 9, in the presence of the owners of Their Majesty, Excellency and Highness are the leaders of the States of the Cooperation Council of the Gulf and Arab countries, and the broad participation of the League of Arab States, the People’s Republic of China, as well as the presidents and secretaries general of several regional and international organizations in the framework of Arab interest in relations with China, which is witnessing significant development and aims to achieve higher levels of cooperation, development and common interests, and enhance the security, peace, prosperity and development of the Arab and Chinese peoples.
At this time, the “Riyadh-China Summit on Cooperation and Development” is being held. It serves as an important cooperation mechanism to develop a means of exchanging experiences and experiences between the Arab and Chinese sides, as well as to confront current international challenges and changes, whether at the political, economic or cultural levels, for the benefit of the Arab countries, China. and the world in general.
This important historic summit also represents a new impetus for the strengthening and development of the Arab-Chinese relations in the light of current international changes and an opportunity to dedicate the historical Arab-Chinese relations, deepen cooperation in all fields, promote the exchange between civilizations in each of them, and work hand in hand hand to build the Arab-Chinese community, for a common future on the way to a new era.
Through this summit, the leaders of the Arab countries and China intend to plan joint cooperation in the future, improve the quality and level of the Arab-Chinese relations and seek greater consensus between the two sides on global governance, development, security, and civilized dialogue. , and other important questions.
This summit is considered an important milestone in the history of the Arab-Chinese relations and symbolizes the entry of the Arab-Chinese friendship into a new phase, as well as the opening of broader horizons for the Arab-Chinese strategic partnership, leading both sides to move forward along the path of building an Arab-Chinese community for a common future in strides.
The Arab countries are important partners for China in advancing firmly on the path of development, strengthening solidarity and cooperation among developing countries, and promoting the building of a community with a common destiny for mankind.
Relations between the Arab countries and China are rooted in history, forming a generally outstanding and close relationship of strategic partnership between the two sides, and in the past more than 70 years since the founding of the new China, Arab cooperation with China has determined the prospects and the way to build the Arab Chinese community.
Cooperation between the Arab countries and China in all areas has been rapidly and comprehensively developed, as the Arab countries have become China’s most important energy suppliers and trade and economic partners. While the Arab and Chinese sides jointly implement the “Belt and Road” in various fields, including technology, through the Arab-Chinese technology partnership, in order to take full advantage of China’s technological advantages and use the catalytic role of advanced and modern technologies .
The Arab countries and China enjoy a high degree of complementary economic advantages, as the trade volume between the Arab countries and China has increased since 1970 AD. to 2010 AD more than 620 times, and imports of Chinese oil from the Arab countries increased by about 30 times from the early nineties to 2010 AD.
The total trade turnover between Arab countries and China in 2020 was about $239.8 billion, with Arab countries imports from China amounting to about $122.9 billion, up 2.1% year on year, while Arab countries and China are cooperation partners in the framework of the One Belt, One Road Initiative, as China has signed cooperation documents under this initiative with many Arab countries in addition to the Arab League.
In 2021 AD, the balance of mutual direct investment between the Arab and Chinese sides amounted to 27 billion US dollars, an increase of 2.6% compared to 10 years ago, and the volume of trade exchange between the two sides reached 330.3 billion US dollars, an increase 1.5 times. % compared to what it was 10 years ago and in the first three quarters of 2022. The volume of trade between the two sides reached 319 billion 295 million dollars, an increase of 35.28% compared to the same period last year, and this is close to total volume in 2021.
And also about expanding cultural and human exchange and promoting the rapprochement of peoples; The Arab and Chinese sides have carried out a variety of cooperation in several fields, including youth, media, education, culture and health, which has expanded human and cultural exchanges and deepened mutual understanding between the two sides.
The Arab and Chinese sides have established different mechanisms of human and cultural communication within the framework of the Arab-Chinese Cooperation Forum, and although each Arab and Chinese civilization has a different system and characteristics, both of them include common concepts and aspirations that accumulate in the process of human progress and associated with values such as moderation, moderation, tolerance and self-discipline. They seek dialogue among civilizations and call for tolerance and mutual benefit.
The League of Arab States and the People’s Republic of China enjoy historical friendly relations, since China began to contact with the League of Arab States after establishing diplomatic relations with Egypt in 1956 AD, and the League opened its office in China in 1993 AD, and the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Affairs signed a memorandum of understanding on the establishment of a political consultation mechanism with the General Secretariat of the Arab League in 1999 AD, and China appointed its ambassador to Egypt and a Chinese delegate to the Arab League in 2005 AD. and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China established a high-level political and strategic dialogue mechanism with the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States in 2015 AD.
The League of Arab States seeks to strengthen its relations with China in various fields so that the Arab-Chinese rapprochement and cooperation become stronger, stronger and more diverse based on the common denominators of both parties’ adherence to the principles of international law, international legality, sovereignty and independence of states, commitment to dispute resolution peaceful means, as well as a common desire to expand and deepen the areas of cooperation to achieve Arab and Chinese interests.
China has been making unremitting efforts for peace and stability in the Middle East. China is also constructively participating in resolving the Palestinian issue, as well as in the sensitive issues of Iraq, Libya, Sudan, Yemen and other countries, seeking solutions acceptable to all parties. through an inclusive political dialogue.
The Arab League maintains friendship with China, and the vast majority of decisions regarding China adopted by the League’s Ministerial Council since its 125th session in March 2006 support the One China principle.
All decisions of the League Council at the ministerial level regarding China, since its 149th session in March 2018, have been related to cooperation in building the One Belt, One Road Initiative Chinese diplomacy in the Middle East.
Arab countries and China have joined hands and supported each other in the spirit of one team since the outbreak of the new Corona virus pandemic, which has led to effective cooperation in the development and use of vaccines, prevention and joint control, and the exchange of experience and medical drugs.Produce masks and other materials to fight this pandemic.
Arab countries and China are also facing similar historical challenges in light of the unprecedented changes that are currently taking place in the world, as China has always considered the Arab countries as important partners in the steady movement along the path of peaceful development, strengthening solidarity and cooperation. between developing countries and the desire to build a community with a common future for humanity.
This also reflects the holding of the first “Riyadh Arab-Chinese Cooperation and Development Summit” in the Kingdom; The desire of the leaders of the Arab and Chinese countries to develop aspects of joint cooperation and coordinate the strategic directions of the Arab countries with China as the world’s second largest economy, as well as strengthen the role of the Kingdom as a pillar of security and stability in the region and the world, and build bridges of communication with China by harmonizing documents between the two parties and develop a vision and mechanisms. Shared understanding, launch and support of quality initiatives.
The holding of the first “Riyadh-China Cooperation and Development Summit” in the Kingdom contributes to the promotion of the Arab-Chinese strategic partnership to a wider horizon, and also serves the common interests of both sides by improving the mechanisms of the Arab-Chinese Cooperation Forum, and instructing the General Secretariat to coordinate with respective authorities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the People’s Republic of China.
The Kingdom is working hard to ensure that this important historic summit is a success, which is an important milestone in the strategic partnership between the Arab countries and China, in which three summits are taking place,” said Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. The second is the “Riyadh-China Cooperation and Development Summit in the Persian Gulf”, and the third is the “Riyadh-China Arab-China Cooperation and Development Summit”. partnership through these summits, which is an additional step in supporting the Arab-Chinese cooperation in all areas to achieve common interests between the two parties.