China-Arab report stresses mutual respect, opposes global hegemony

Ahead of the highly anticipated first China-Arab summit, which is scheduled to be held in early December in Saudi Arabia, the Chinese Foreign Ministry released a long report fully reviewing China’s long-standing relations with Arab countries, and highlighted the strategic mutual trust in ChinaArab ties in the new era, which Chinese experts believe points out the future direction of China-Arab cooperation.

Amid the profound changes unseen in a century, China and Arab states face similar opportunities and challenges. China has all along viewed Arab states as strategic partners in our pursuit of peaceful development, further cooperation with developing countries and building a community with a shared future for mankind, Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Friday.

The comments were made after the Chinese Foreign Ministry released a report titled “China-Arab Cooperation in the New Era” on Thursday night, which looks back at the long-standing friendship between China and Arab countries and highlights the strategic mutual trust of China-Arab ties in the new era.

The report is a comprehensive review of China-Arab relations, from historical exchanges and build-up of strategic ties in various areas to deepening cooperation in political mutual trust, trade cooperation and cultural exchanges, laying out the principle of China-Arab relations and direction of future ties, said Liu Zhongmin, a professor at Middle East Studies Institute of Shanghai International Studies University.

Both China and Arab countries advocate respect for sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, and equality and mutual benefit. They both oppose external interference and all forms of hegemonism and power politics, according to the report.

Saudi Arabia plans to host the Chinese-Arab summit on December 9, according to Reuters.