Chinese FM meets 5 senior Arab officials

Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing held separate meetings with five senior Arab officials on Monday in Cairo.

The five officials are Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Mohamed Benaissa, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, Mauritanian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Mohamed Vall Ould Bellal, Algerian Minister of State of Foreign Affairs Abdelaziz Belkhadem and Farouk Al Kadoumy, Director of the Political Department of the Palestine Liberation Organization.

They will attend the first ministerial meeting of the Sino-Arab Cooperation Forum on Tuesday.

Li and Benaissa voiced satisfaction with the growth of Sino-Moroccan ties and agreed to strengthen bilateral friendship and promote cooperation among developing countries.

Benaissa expressed his appreciation for China's economic achievements and its role in the international affairs.

During his meeting with Zebari, Li said Sino-Iraqi ties have entered a new phase of development and China was willing to enhance bilateral ties based on mutual trust, equality and mutual benefit.

Zebari, on his part, appreciated China's principled stance on the Iraqi issue, expressed gratitude for China's support for the interim Iraqi government and welcomed Chinese enterprises to participate in Iraq's reconstruction.

Li and Bellal spoke highly of a time-honored friendship between China and Mauritania, and reached a common understanding on furthering bilateral ties.

They also agreed the two countries could engage in cooperation within the framework of the Sino-Arab Cooperation Forum and the Sino-African Cooperation Forum.

Bellal said the Mauritanian people have been close friends of the Chinese people and expressed thanks for China's support for Mauritania in economic, cultural and health areas.

Li and Belkhadem explored ways to further promote cooperation between China and Algeria in economic, trade and energy fields.

Li told Kadoumy the Chinese government and people have firmly supported the Palestinians' righteous cause and would continue to develop Sino-Palestinian friendship and cooperation.

Li and Kadoumy also exchanged views on the Mideast situation.

The five Arab officials reiterated the one-China policy and renewed support for China's reunification.

Source: Xinhua