On the afternoon of May 14, 2010, Chinese President Hu Jintao met at the Great Hall of the People with heads of Arab delegations to the Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the China-Arab Cooperation Forum. Hu spoke highly of China-Arab relations and congratulated on the 65th anniversary of the League of Arab States and the success of the Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the China-Arab Cooperation Forum.
Hu said China-Arab cooperation, with its solid foundation, has huge potential and broad prospects. Hu made a three-point proposal on promoting the strategic cooperative relationship. First, Hu suggested China and Arab states enhance political mutual trust, deepen cooperation on international affairs, support each other on major issues concerning their core interests, coordinate closely in the adjustment of the international system, jointly cope with global challenges and safeguard the common interests of developing countries. Second, Hu highlighted the principle of mutual benefit in economic cooperation. He proposed the two sides make best use of complementary advantages, expand cooperation in trade, investment, energy and infrastructure construction, and in such fields as finance, agriculture, science and technology and environment protection. Hu urged the two sides to develop new modes of cooperation, expand areas of cooperation and enhance the level of cooperation. Third, Hu called on both sides to carry on the traditional friendship and enhance people-to-people and cultural cooperation. Both sides should deepen exchange and cooperation in culture, education, media, youth and tourism sectors and organize various forms of colorful and characteristic exchange activities to jointly write a new chapter for the exchange between the Chinese civilization and the Arab and Islamic civilization.
China firmly supported the peace process in the Middle East, the just cause of Arab states' efforts in working for resumption of legitimate national rights, and supported the proposal of establishing a nuclear-free Middle East, Hu said. China would work with Arab states to further perfect the China-Arab Cooperation Forum, promote overall ties between China and Arab states and bilateral relations, and usher in a new era for China-Arab strategic cooperative relations, he said.
Echoing President Hu’s proposals on advancing China-Arab strategic cooperative relations, Libyan Foreign Minister Mousa Kousa, also co-chair of the meeting, and Secretary General of the League of Arab States Amr Moussa said the just-concluded ministerial meeting, in which important consensus was reached, was successful. Describing China as a "strategic cooperative partner" of Arab nations, they said the partnership, along with booming pragmatic trade, economic and cultural cooperation, has been solid and vigorous. They agreed China was playing an increasingly important role in maintaining regional peace and security by supporting the Middle East peace process. Arab nations would adhere to the one-China policy and support China's peaceful reunification. In the new situation, the Arab side is ready to cooperate more closely with China in the future development of the forum in a bid to build the strategic cooperative relationship as a model between states.
State Councilor Dai Bingguo, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and other officials attended the meeting.