Chinese, Arab FMs to discuss new partnership

Leaders from China and Arab countries will discuss key cooperation projects and map out fields for future cooperation during a China-Arab summit in Beijing later this month, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

The Second Ministerial Meeting of China-Arab Cooperation Forum is to be held in Beijing on May 31 and June 1.

Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and counterparts from 22 Arab countries or their representatives and the Arab League (AL) will attend the meeting, Zhai Jun, the director general of the foreign ministry's Asian and African division, said Wednesday.

"It will be the first time for the forum to hold its ministerial meeting in China since it was founded in 2004," said Zhai.

It was also for the first time for foreign ministers of all Arab countries to get together outside the Middle East, he added.

He confirmed that Foreign Minister Mahmud al-Zahar of Palestine would also attend the meeting.

Li would co-host the meeting with Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates Sheik Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, whose country holds the AL rotating presidency, and AL Secretary General Amr Moussa.

The meeting would focus on developing the new China-Arab partnership, said Zhai. Senior Chinese leaders would meet with the foreign delegations on the sidelines of the meeting.

Two documents would be signed at the end of the meeting including a communique and working plans for the next two years, Zhai said.

Energy cooperation constituted an important part of China-Arab cooperation, he acknowledged. China imported 52 million tons of crude oil from Arab countries last year and trade volume with the Arab world totaled 51.3 billion dollars last year, he said.

"However, China-Arab cooperation is not confined to the oil fields," he added.

China and the Arab countries had cooperated in trade, investment, culture, environment and other fields, he said. Last year, the two sides conducted an entrepreneurship forum, investment seminar and symposium on China-Arab civilizations. The two sides also launched a cooperative training program on human resources.

Source: Xinhua