A trusted friend

“The Arab-Chinese relations are strong and deep-rooted as they are based on a solid ground of mutual interests as well as friendship between the Arab and the Chinese peoples,” says Ambassador Khaled Al-Habbash, Arab League Secretary-General’s adviser and head of Asia and Australia Department at the pan-Arab panel.
It is obvious that the Chinese-Arab ties are not only stable but are on the rise politically and economically as both sides are keen on enhancing their mutual cooperation in various fields based on mutual respect and common interests.
The Arab world always appreciates that China is one of the countries that support the Arab rights and causes, especially the Palestinian cause. In addition, China is keen on not interfering in other countries’ domestic affairs as one of the principles of Beijing’s foreign policy.
Therefore, it was natural for the Arab League to enhance ties with the Asian power and establish a forum for cooperation between the two sides in various fields.
“In 2004, the Arab League and China established the China-Arab forum that has become one of the most active forums of the Arab League with other foreign blocs,” Habbash said, adding that the forum was held several times at a ministerial level.
Unlike western powers whose regional presence is based on hegemony and personal interests, Arab officials and experts believe that China successfully showed the Arabs that their bilateral relations represent a “win-win situation” and are not based on unilateral political interests in the region.
“China is not involved in any Arab crises; on the contrary, China’s positions are straightforward and supportive of Arab rights including the Palestinian cause,” Nourhan Al-Sheikh, professor of political sciences at Cairo University, told Xinhua. “Accordingly, the Arab-Chinese ties are stable and far from any tensions, disagreements or contradictions in political positions,” she added.
Still, some Arabs see that China could play a greater role in the issues of the Middle East, particularly the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. With regards to the Syrian crisis, China always calls for a peaceful solution for the issue through dialogue, maintaining its policy of non-interference in other countries’ domestic affairs.
Supporting peace and stability is one of Beijing’s major foreign policy principles, which appeals to most Arab states. As one of the biggest economies worldwide, China has growing economic partnership with the Arab world and the Asian country has contributed to a lot of development projects in the Arab region, Africa and the Middle East in general.
In addition, the Arab League’s China-Arab forum created some 15 mechanisms to enhance cooperation between the Arab world and China in different fields, including education, investment, development, the media and many others.
China’s “Belt and Road” initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping in 2013, which aims to revive the ancient Silk Road to reconnect China with Southeast Asia, Africa and Europe, is also expected to boost the economic and commercial ties between the Asian republic and the Arab states.
Arabs perceive China as a power with good intention, given the Chinese efforts and contributions to the development of the Arab world, Africa and the Middle East. As part of China’s contribution to the development African states, President Xi has recently vowed to provide $60 billion for the development of Africa through a three-year plan that would undoubtedly highlight Beijing’s role in the continent.
During his remarks at the recent Climate Change summit held in Paris, Xi stressed that developed countries should provide more support for developing countries and that dealing with climate change issues should not hinder economic development and poverty reduction of the latter.
The historical ties between China and the Arab world date back to more than 2,000 years, when the unique ancient Silk Road connected trade between them and led to cultural interaction between the Arab and Chinese peoples.
In modern history, most Arab and African states supported the independence of China. Egypt was the first Arab and African state to recognize China and establish diplomatic relations with Beijing in 1956.
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Courtesy: Xinhua