China hosted the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum on May 30 in Beijing, in an attempt to deepen its relationship with Arab states in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
At the summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized on the creation of an independent Palestinian state and pledged increased humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza.
The summit was co-chaired by China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Mauritanian counterpart Mohamed Salem Ould Merzouk. High-ranking officials from 22 Arab countries attended the meeting, including key leaders such as Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Tunisian President Kais Saied, and United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
In his keynote speech, Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized China’s commitment to expanding cooperation with Arab nations in five key areas: innovation, financial investment, energy cooperation, trade, and people-to-people exchanges. He expressed “a model for maintaining world peace and stability.”
“We will … strive together for solutions to hotspot issues that uphold fairness and justice and sustain peace and security,” he said.
The forum concluded with the adoption of two important documents: the Beijing Declaration and the Action Implementation Plan.
Beijing Declaration
The Beijing Declaration outlined strategies to enhance the China-Arab community and strengthen bilateral cooperation. It also emphasized joint efforts to address regional crises, counterterrorism, human rights issues, climate change, and advancements in artificial intelligence.
The Action Implementation Plan detailed a framework for enhancing economic, political, infrastructural, and aviation cooperation over the next two years.
The summit featured bilateral meetings, including one between Xi and el-Sissi. They signed agreements to boost cooperation in infrastructure, technology, and food imports, reflecting China’s significant investments in Egyptian state projects. These projects include the Suez Canal economic zone and a new administrative capital east of Cairo, with investments totaling around $14 billion in 2023.
“China’s priorities in the region are primarily economic,” said Maria Papageorgiou, a lecturer in politics and international relations at University of Exeter. “It wants to continue the momentum established in recent years with Gulf states and expand its investments, particularly in trade, technology (5G networks), and other cyber initiatives.”
Additionally, China seeks to position itself as a credible alternative to Western nations, offering partnerships that do not interfere in domestic affairs, he stated.
Beyond economic ties, China is increasingly engaging diplomatically in the Middle East. Notably, in 2023, Beijing brokered an agreement to restore diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, a role traditionally played by global powers like the United States and Russia
China’s support for Palestinians
A significant aspect of the summit was China’s continued support for Palestinians. President Xi reiterated calls for an independent Palestinian state and announced 500 million yuan ($69 million) in humanitarian aid for Gaza.
He also pledged $3 million to a United Nations agency assisting refugees of the Israel-Hamas conflict. This support came amid escalating violence in the region, with the Palestinian death toll exceeding 36,000, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
Egyptian President el-Sissi praised China’s efforts to support a ceasefire in Gaza and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. He urged the international community to take decisive action to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza and to counter any attempts to displace Palestinians forcibly.
Xi Jinping meets UAE leader
During the summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping held a series of meeting with Arab leaders to expand collaboration and deepen ties in the Middle East and African region.
In his meeting with the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Beijing, President Xi Jinping noted that the UAE is an important comprehensive strategic partner of China. In recent years, China-UAE relations have maintained a sound momentum of development, setting a good example for China-Arab states relations in the new era.
I was pleased to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing today to discuss ways to build upon the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between our two nations. As we celebrate 40 years of diplomatic relations between the UAE and China, our enduring partnership continues to… pic.twitter.com/mNpFou3IrM
— محمد بن زايد (@MohamedBinZayed) May 30, 2024
Xi said China stands ready to work with the UAE to support the development of bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership. Xi called on the two sides to consolidate cooperation in areas such as trade, energy and infrastructure, expand cooperation in high-tech fields such as information technology (IT), artificial intelligence (AI), digital economy and new energy, and strengthen law enforcement and security cooperation. Chinese leaders also expressed willingness to continue to support the “Hundred Schools Project” of Chinese language education in the UAE, to enhance people-to-people exchanges, and friendship between the two countries.
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed expressed his admiration for the Chinese people’s resilience in overcoming challenges, which has enabled the remarkable progress and development the country continues to experience today.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the UAE.