China calls for greater collaboration with Arab states
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The news: Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for closer cooperation with Arab nations and reiterated Beijing’s support of UN membership for Palestine, during the 10th Ministerial Meeting of China-Arab States Cooperation Forum on Thursday.
The numbers: According to Bloomberg, UBS analysts estimate that growing Chinese ties to the Middle East could add more than USD400 billion ($602.43 billion) to global energy-related trade by 2030.
The context: President Xi is hosting Arab leaders in Beijing this week, at a forum designed to bolster Chinese ties with the Middle East.
In a speech delivered on Thursday, Xi explained that collaboration across a range of sectors like finance, green tech, and artificial technology should be fostered, and that “China will work with the Arab side as good partners to make our relations a model for maintaining world peace and stability.”
Referring to the country’s global infrastructure project, the ‘Belt and Road Initiative’, Xi said that "Friendship between China and Chinese people and Arab countries and peoples originates from friendly exchanges along the ancient Silk Road.”
With 21 Arab nations having signed cooperation agreements with Beijing as part of the Initiative, he added that "China will further enhance strategic cooperation with the Arab side on oil and gas, and integrate supply security with market security.”
Xi also took the opportunity to address the Israel-Hamas war, saying that “War should not continue indefinitely, justice should not be absent forever.” Calling for a peace conference to help end the fighting, Xi emphasised China’s position that it would support UN membership for Palestine.
